Mesopotamia, the “land between the rivers,” is an obvious place for a civilization because it is located near two sources of water: the Tigris River and the Euphrates River. Ancient Egypt developed along the Nile River. Most people live near water. If you look at any large city, you’ll probably find water nearby. People need water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and transportation.
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Many cities formed where freshwater rivers meet the ocean. New York City is located where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean. In America, New York City has a harbor, a place where ships can seek shelter from stormy weather. Chicago grew beside Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Chicago River. The point where two rivers meet is known as a confluence. St. Louis, Missouri, is situated near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.
A few cities are not near a significant source of water. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Tehran, Iran, developed in dry regions that once had more dependable local wells and springs. Johannesburg, South Africa, developed after the discovery of gold in 1886. The Chattahoochee River near Atlanta, Georgia, is not a significant source of water. Atlanta developed as a trading city because it was the point where two railroads met. Denver, Colorado, developed as a supply and mining town during a gold rush. The South Platte River trickles through the city but is not a significant source of water. Modern technology, such as aqueducts and pipelines, has made it possible to bring water to very dry places, but for most of history, it was necessary for a city to be near a source of water.
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Mr. Donn has an excellent website that includes a section on Mesopotamia.
Top Ten Most Populated World Cities and Their Nearest Body of Water
| Tokyo, Japan Arakawa River, Tama River, Pacific Ocean |
| Seoul, South Korea Han River |
| Mexico City, Mexico Lake Texcoco |
| Mumbai, India Ulhas River, Indian Ocean |
| Jakarta, Indonesia Ciliwung River, Pacific Ocean |
| São Paulo, Brazil Tietê River, Pinheiros River, Atlantic Ocean |
| Delhi, India Yamuna River |
| Osaka, Japan Yodo River, Pacific Ocean |
| Shanghai, China Yangtze River, Pacific Ocean |
| Manila, Philippines Pasig River, Pacific Ocean |
Top Ten Most Populated U.S. Cities and Their Nearest Body of Water
| New York, New York Hudson River, Atlantic Ocean |
| Los Angeles, California Los Angeles River, Pacific Ocean |
| Chicago, Illinois Chicago River, Lake Michigan |
| Dallas, Texas Trinity River |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Delaware River |
| Houston, Texas Buffalo Bayou |
| Washington, D.C. Potomac River, Atlantic Ocean |
| Miami, Florida Atlantic Ocean |
| Atlanta, Georgia Chattahoochee River |
| Boston, Massachusetts Charles River, Atlantic Ocean |