A river has been and is a major influence on civilizations since ancient times. Humans have started civilizations along the major river basins.
In areas, where there is no river, people have to survive in difficulty. So water is like basic of everything. Without it, you cannot live.
River basically water has unlimited uses. Some of them are:
- Hydropower to produce Electricity
- Transport
- Irrigation
- Drinking
Rivers are often large enough to carry big vessels, barrages that transport timber, coal, and other raw material and also many products.
Ancient scripture has often personified the rivers. Ganga is a very sacred river because of its place in the religious scriptures as a goddess in Indian mythology. So also with Saraswati, Krishna, Betwa, etc. These are often personified as Gods and Goddesses.