World Rivers Day

Celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday in September, World Rivers Day brings together millions of people in over 100 countries. It highlights the importance of rivers and their valorization.

Awareness-raising activities and celebrations are organized by groups and organizations working to preserve natural environments, the environment and, in particular, watercourses. In 2023, events will be held in British Columbia, the founding location of this day of celebration, as well as in California, Indiana, Rhode Island and Washington, DC, in the United States.

In the current context, rivers in all regions of the world are under threat. This is an important day to encourage better river management practices to ensure their present and future health.

The first Rivers Day was held in 2005 as part of the United Nations (UN) launch of the “Water for Life” Decade. The event was the result of a proposal by Mark Angelo, renowned for his role as an ardent river advocate and founder of Rivers Day in British Columbia (Canada), which has been a success since its inception in 1980.