1.2.1.4. Distribution of Inland Waterways in the World

All the rivers and lakes of the world are more or less used for transportation. But, navigable rivers which pass through densely populated areas are more used for navigation. The major inland water ways used extensively round the globe can be studied as follows-

Rhine Waterway: Rhine River flows through industrial The Rhine flows through industrially advanced nations of Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Rhine River is navigable from Rotterdam for about 870 km. At its source in Switzerland, it flows along boundary of France and Germany and drains Germany and the Netherlands and has its mouth near North Sea. On its banks are located main cities of Europe like Strasbourg {France}, Bonn, Cologne, Dusseldorf and Rotterdam. The vessel take the cargo of industrial products, coal food grains in addition to passengers and tourists which have seen considerable rise in the past few decades. For the benefit of tourists, the vessels are fitted with modern conveniences and sail in both directions of the rift valley. One can enjoy the scenic beauty of the Vossages of France and Black Forest of Germany. Each year more than 20,000 ocean-going ships and 2, 00,000 inland vessels sail in this waterway.

Danube Waterway: It is an important inland waterway of Eastern Europe. The Danube rises in the Black Forest of Germany and flows eastwards through Austria, Slovak Republic, Hungary Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and other countries and then joins the landlocked Black Sea. It is 2,850 km long. In 1992, a 171 km canal was constructed linking it with Kohlheim. Now Danube covers a distance of 3,500 km to fall into Black Sea. Cargoes carrying export items are wheat, maize, timber, and machinery sail in the river. The waterway is also gaining importance on account of rising tourism.

Great Lakes· St. Lawrence Seaway: This waterway flows through the industrially advanced region and estuary St. Lawrence River of the United States and Canada. It is therefore the longest and busiest inland waterway of the world. Ships can ply up to a distance of 3760 km in it. The ships plying on this route are long and narrow and are capable of transporting 45,000 tonnes of freight. Agro-products, machines, iron ore, coal, petroleum, limestone, etc. are mainly transported from the ports like Duluth and Buffalo, which are equipped with all modern

facilities. The Great Lakes region of North America consists of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario.

Mississippi Waterway: Mississippi River is one of the main rivers of North America. It has its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota and flow 3,718 km draining fertile lands of interior parts of North America. It then joins the Gulf of Mexico. This waterway has become more important these days. About 16 km north its tributary Saint Louis Missouri joins it. Together with Missouri, its total length is 6238 km. For greater part it is navigable. Steamers can ply in this river up to Minneapolis some distance away from Lake Superior. The Mississippi-Ohio waterway connects the interior part of U.5.A with the Gulf of Mexico in the south.

Volga Waterway: Volga is Europe's biggest river and has large number of developed waterways. After rising from in the Valdai Hills north-west of Moscow, it flows for about 3689 km before draining into Caspian Sea. Oaka River is its major right bank tributary. The river is connected to river Don by a canal which flows into the Black Sea.