Rivers are important for a country’s economy in the following ways:

• The rivers provide water as the basic resource that is used for various activities.
• The river banks have attracted settlers from ancient times. These settlements have now become major cities.
• Rivers provide water for irrigation, navigation, and for the generation of hydroelectric power.
• The rivers have also promoted agriculture, the most important economic activity of a country.
• The rivers tend to have a moderating influence on the climate of the surroundings. They also help to maintain the aquatic ecosystem.