Waterways
@waterways-project.bsky.social
Project looking at water and the ways people interact with it in history, society, and culture
Facebook: https://shorturl.at/zyaCh
Youtube: https://shorturl.at/Pu8XR
Facebook: https://shorturl.at/zyaCh
Youtube: https://shorturl.at/Pu8XR
It may look cute, but did you know the North American river otter is kind of a dick?
Native to Canada and the US, it's a trickster in many Indigenous cultures
In an Ojibwe story, the otter tricked the bear into losing its tail by saying it could catch fish by sticking its tail into freezing water
Native to Canada and the US, it's a trickster in many Indigenous cultures
In an Ojibwe story, the otter tricked the bear into losing its tail by saying it could catch fish by sticking its tail into freezing water
May 3, 2025 at 12:30 PM
It may look cute, but did you know the North American river otter is kind of a dick?
Native to Canada and the US, it's a trickster in many Indigenous cultures
In an Ojibwe story, the otter tricked the bear into losing its tail by saying it could catch fish by sticking its tail into freezing water
Native to Canada and the US, it's a trickster in many Indigenous cultures
In an Ojibwe story, the otter tricked the bear into losing its tail by saying it could catch fish by sticking its tail into freezing water
We have updated our Waterwork Tier rankings to include Maori Agricultural Adaptations, the Dambuster Raid, and Boston's Land Reclamations
What do you think?
What do you think?
May 1, 2025 at 1:28 AM
We have updated our Waterwork Tier rankings to include Maori Agricultural Adaptations, the Dambuster Raid, and Boston's Land Reclamations
What do you think?
What do you think?
Did you know the Founding Fathers wouldn't recognize modern Boston?
Located on the Shawmut Peninsula, 1700s Boston was almost an island
Land reclamation in the 1800s changed the city's coastline, filling in the location of the Boston Tea Party and creating the entire Back Bay neighborhood
Located on the Shawmut Peninsula, 1700s Boston was almost an island
Land reclamation in the 1800s changed the city's coastline, filling in the location of the Boston Tea Party and creating the entire Back Bay neighborhood
April 30, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Did you know the Founding Fathers wouldn't recognize modern Boston?
Located on the Shawmut Peninsula, 1700s Boston was almost an island
Land reclamation in the 1800s changed the city's coastline, filling in the location of the Boston Tea Party and creating the entire Back Bay neighborhood
Located on the Shawmut Peninsula, 1700s Boston was almost an island
Land reclamation in the 1800s changed the city's coastline, filling in the location of the Boston Tea Party and creating the entire Back Bay neighborhood
Did you know Star Wars' Death Star attack was inspired by exploding dams?
During WWII, the RAF launched Operation Chastise, which used 'bouncing' bombs to destroy Germany's Möhne and Eder dams
The raid was subject of the 1955 film 'The Dam Busters,' which inspired the climax of 1977's A New Hope
During WWII, the RAF launched Operation Chastise, which used 'bouncing' bombs to destroy Germany's Möhne and Eder dams
The raid was subject of the 1955 film 'The Dam Busters,' which inspired the climax of 1977's A New Hope
April 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Did you know Star Wars' Death Star attack was inspired by exploding dams?
During WWII, the RAF launched Operation Chastise, which used 'bouncing' bombs to destroy Germany's Möhne and Eder dams
The raid was subject of the 1955 film 'The Dam Busters,' which inspired the climax of 1977's A New Hope
During WWII, the RAF launched Operation Chastise, which used 'bouncing' bombs to destroy Germany's Möhne and Eder dams
The raid was subject of the 1955 film 'The Dam Busters,' which inspired the climax of 1977's A New Hope
The Romans called the Mediterranean "Our Sea," but did the Etruscans get the last laugh?
A major power in Italy before Rome, the Etruscans ('Tyrrhenians' in Greek) were conquered by their more famous neighbor
But their name lives on in the arm of the Mediterranean west of Italy: the Tyrrhenian Sea
A major power in Italy before Rome, the Etruscans ('Tyrrhenians' in Greek) were conquered by their more famous neighbor
But their name lives on in the arm of the Mediterranean west of Italy: the Tyrrhenian Sea
April 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The Romans called the Mediterranean "Our Sea," but did the Etruscans get the last laugh?
A major power in Italy before Rome, the Etruscans ('Tyrrhenians' in Greek) were conquered by their more famous neighbor
But their name lives on in the arm of the Mediterranean west of Italy: the Tyrrhenian Sea
A major power in Italy before Rome, the Etruscans ('Tyrrhenians' in Greek) were conquered by their more famous neighbor
But their name lives on in the arm of the Mediterranean west of Italy: the Tyrrhenian Sea
The Gulf of Mexico, the Panama Canal, *and* the Suez Canal.
WTF is it with these people and waterways?
Follow @waterways-project.bsky.social
WTF is it with these people and waterways?
Follow @waterways-project.bsky.social
April 27, 2025 at 2:21 PM
The Gulf of Mexico, the Panama Canal, *and* the Suez Canal.
WTF is it with these people and waterways?
Follow @waterways-project.bsky.social
WTF is it with these people and waterways?
Follow @waterways-project.bsky.social
Is Ukraine's Dneiper River still a river, or something else?
The USSR built six dams along the Dneiper, forming a series of lakes that make up >500 miles of its ~700 mile length in Ukraine
In 2023, Russian forces invading Ukraine breached one of the dams, emptying its lake and flooding thousands
The USSR built six dams along the Dneiper, forming a series of lakes that make up >500 miles of its ~700 mile length in Ukraine
In 2023, Russian forces invading Ukraine breached one of the dams, emptying its lake and flooding thousands
April 25, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Is Ukraine's Dneiper River still a river, or something else?
The USSR built six dams along the Dneiper, forming a series of lakes that make up >500 miles of its ~700 mile length in Ukraine
In 2023, Russian forces invading Ukraine breached one of the dams, emptying its lake and flooding thousands
The USSR built six dams along the Dneiper, forming a series of lakes that make up >500 miles of its ~700 mile length in Ukraine
In 2023, Russian forces invading Ukraine breached one of the dams, emptying its lake and flooding thousands
Would you be comfortable fighting for your life on a frozen lake?
In 1242, Novgorod lured the Teutonic Knights into battle on frozen Lake Peipus, with its slipperiness leading to a Teutonic defeat
The "Battle on the Ice" is a major battle in Russian historiography; others consider it a skirmish
In 1242, Novgorod lured the Teutonic Knights into battle on frozen Lake Peipus, with its slipperiness leading to a Teutonic defeat
The "Battle on the Ice" is a major battle in Russian historiography; others consider it a skirmish
April 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Would you be comfortable fighting for your life on a frozen lake?
In 1242, Novgorod lured the Teutonic Knights into battle on frozen Lake Peipus, with its slipperiness leading to a Teutonic defeat
The "Battle on the Ice" is a major battle in Russian historiography; others consider it a skirmish
In 1242, Novgorod lured the Teutonic Knights into battle on frozen Lake Peipus, with its slipperiness leading to a Teutonic defeat
The "Battle on the Ice" is a major battle in Russian historiography; others consider it a skirmish
Where did anti-Nazi partisans hide during World War II? Often it was in wetlands
The largest wetland in Europe, the 100,000 sq mi Pripet Marshes located in Polesia were dreaded by the Germans as a partisan refuge
In 1943, 76,000 partisans were operating in Polesia, including 4,000 Jewish fighters
The largest wetland in Europe, the 100,000 sq mi Pripet Marshes located in Polesia were dreaded by the Germans as a partisan refuge
In 1943, 76,000 partisans were operating in Polesia, including 4,000 Jewish fighters
April 23, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Where did anti-Nazi partisans hide during World War II? Often it was in wetlands
The largest wetland in Europe, the 100,000 sq mi Pripet Marshes located in Polesia were dreaded by the Germans as a partisan refuge
In 1943, 76,000 partisans were operating in Polesia, including 4,000 Jewish fighters
The largest wetland in Europe, the 100,000 sq mi Pripet Marshes located in Polesia were dreaded by the Germans as a partisan refuge
In 1943, 76,000 partisans were operating in Polesia, including 4,000 Jewish fighters
April 23, 2025 at 2:54 AM
How many uses are there for a coconut?
Domesticated in South(east) Asia and spread across the sea by Austronesian migrants, the coconut palm is known as the "tree of a thousand uses" in Malay
You can eat its meat, drink its water, fry its oil, cut its wood, weave its coir and leaves, and more
Domesticated in South(east) Asia and spread across the sea by Austronesian migrants, the coconut palm is known as the "tree of a thousand uses" in Malay
You can eat its meat, drink its water, fry its oil, cut its wood, weave its coir and leaves, and more
April 22, 2025 at 12:30 PM
How many uses are there for a coconut?
Domesticated in South(east) Asia and spread across the sea by Austronesian migrants, the coconut palm is known as the "tree of a thousand uses" in Malay
You can eat its meat, drink its water, fry its oil, cut its wood, weave its coir and leaves, and more
Domesticated in South(east) Asia and spread across the sea by Austronesian migrants, the coconut palm is known as the "tree of a thousand uses" in Malay
You can eat its meat, drink its water, fry its oil, cut its wood, weave its coir and leaves, and more
How did moving to New Zealand change Polynesian agriculture?
Native to the tropics, many of the crops the Maori brought were unsuitable in temperate Aotearoa
But they adapted, prioritizing the hardy sweet potato, adding gravel to soil to retain moisture, and planting in mounds to maintain heat
Native to the tropics, many of the crops the Maori brought were unsuitable in temperate Aotearoa
But they adapted, prioritizing the hardy sweet potato, adding gravel to soil to retain moisture, and planting in mounds to maintain heat
!["'War Speech', by Augustus Earle, depicting an event of 1827-1828. A Māori chief standing in a beached canoe, addressing a crowd of warriors, mostly seated, with a few standing. Two other long canoes are on the beach, one with a sail is in the water, and others are pulled up close to a pā or kāinga in the left background. A dog (kurī) sniffs the ground in the foreground. Most men are armed with guns, although one on the far right holds a taiaha. A gourd and flax kit are centrally placed amongst one group of men. Earle's text reads: "A party of warriors had collected at the Bay of Islands for the purpose of making a hostile visit to a Hauraki tribe. They were detained by contrary winds; and for several days were constantly engaged in listening to speeches from their chiefs, who addressed them from a canoe hauled on shore ... one [canoe], which I measured, was 70 feet long, and carried one hundred fighting men.", 1838. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EarleWarSpeech.jpg](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:eendd6jg5bpwyclix7ciugkk/bafkreifkmet7vsll4qppd7qulmv6cc2ppke2nm32yyhzk4je2266baxwra@jpeg)
April 21, 2025 at 12:30 PM
How did moving to New Zealand change Polynesian agriculture?
Native to the tropics, many of the crops the Maori brought were unsuitable in temperate Aotearoa
But they adapted, prioritizing the hardy sweet potato, adding gravel to soil to retain moisture, and planting in mounds to maintain heat
Native to the tropics, many of the crops the Maori brought were unsuitable in temperate Aotearoa
But they adapted, prioritizing the hardy sweet potato, adding gravel to soil to retain moisture, and planting in mounds to maintain heat
Ever wonder why you don't hear about the Great Barrier Reef (GBF) as much now? Well, humans are kind of killing it
Covering 1,400 miles of the Coral Sea, the GBF is the largest living structure in the world
But coral bleaching linked to warmer oceans has destroyed over half its coral since 1995
Covering 1,400 miles of the Coral Sea, the GBF is the largest living structure in the world
But coral bleaching linked to warmer oceans has destroyed over half its coral since 1995
April 20, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Ever wonder why you don't hear about the Great Barrier Reef (GBF) as much now? Well, humans are kind of killing it
Covering 1,400 miles of the Coral Sea, the GBF is the largest living structure in the world
But coral bleaching linked to warmer oceans has destroyed over half its coral since 1995
Covering 1,400 miles of the Coral Sea, the GBF is the largest living structure in the world
But coral bleaching linked to warmer oceans has destroyed over half its coral since 1995
Stingrays get a bad rap thanks to Steve Irwin, but did you know they're a model for humans?
For Australia's Yolngu people, the mangrove whipray is an ideal parent that teaches its children
It's come to represent cultural survival for the Gumatj clan; members of which were in the band Yothu Yindi
For Australia's Yolngu people, the mangrove whipray is an ideal parent that teaches its children
It's come to represent cultural survival for the Gumatj clan; members of which were in the band Yothu Yindi
April 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Stingrays get a bad rap thanks to Steve Irwin, but did you know they're a model for humans?
For Australia's Yolngu people, the mangrove whipray is an ideal parent that teaches its children
It's come to represent cultural survival for the Gumatj clan; members of which were in the band Yothu Yindi
For Australia's Yolngu people, the mangrove whipray is an ideal parent that teaches its children
It's come to represent cultural survival for the Gumatj clan; members of which were in the band Yothu Yindi
What is your personal relationship with a river?
For the Waikato Maori, the Waikato River–Aotearoa's longest–is an ancestor, the care for which forms a key part of their identity
Settlers' seizure of the river ~1865 caused them deep cultural harm, but they still seek to protect it 150+ years later
For the Waikato Maori, the Waikato River–Aotearoa's longest–is an ancestor, the care for which forms a key part of their identity
Settlers' seizure of the river ~1865 caused them deep cultural harm, but they still seek to protect it 150+ years later
April 18, 2025 at 12:30 PM
What is your personal relationship with a river?
For the Waikato Maori, the Waikato River–Aotearoa's longest–is an ancestor, the care for which forms a key part of their identity
Settlers' seizure of the river ~1865 caused them deep cultural harm, but they still seek to protect it 150+ years later
For the Waikato Maori, the Waikato River–Aotearoa's longest–is an ancestor, the care for which forms a key part of their identity
Settlers' seizure of the river ~1865 caused them deep cultural harm, but they still seek to protect it 150+ years later
Forget Pirates of the Caribbean. Do you know where real black pearls come from?
Many are farmed inside the coral atolls of the Tuamotu archipelago
Using the atolls' sheltered lagoons, pearl farmers cultivate hundreds of acres of underwater oyster beds to produce the rare Tahitian black pearl
Many are farmed inside the coral atolls of the Tuamotu archipelago
Using the atolls' sheltered lagoons, pearl farmers cultivate hundreds of acres of underwater oyster beds to produce the rare Tahitian black pearl
April 17, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Forget Pirates of the Caribbean. Do you know where real black pearls come from?
Many are farmed inside the coral atolls of the Tuamotu archipelago
Using the atolls' sheltered lagoons, pearl farmers cultivate hundreds of acres of underwater oyster beds to produce the rare Tahitian black pearl
Many are farmed inside the coral atolls of the Tuamotu archipelago
Using the atolls' sheltered lagoons, pearl farmers cultivate hundreds of acres of underwater oyster beds to produce the rare Tahitian black pearl
Have you heard of Australia's real crocodile hunters?
Hunting crocodiles is a traditional activity among Aboriginal groups of Northern Territory; the Yolngu Ramingining of Arafura Swamp hunted them for meat and eggs
But hunting for leather drove them to near extinction, forcing a ban in the 60s'
Hunting crocodiles is a traditional activity among Aboriginal groups of Northern Territory; the Yolngu Ramingining of Arafura Swamp hunted them for meat and eggs
But hunting for leather drove them to near extinction, forcing a ban in the 60s'
April 16, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Have you heard of Australia's real crocodile hunters?
Hunting crocodiles is a traditional activity among Aboriginal groups of Northern Territory; the Yolngu Ramingining of Arafura Swamp hunted them for meat and eggs
But hunting for leather drove them to near extinction, forcing a ban in the 60s'
Hunting crocodiles is a traditional activity among Aboriginal groups of Northern Territory; the Yolngu Ramingining of Arafura Swamp hunted them for meat and eggs
But hunting for leather drove them to near extinction, forcing a ban in the 60s'
Is this flower the scariest water plant?
The water hyacinth is one of the fastest-growing plants, forming floating mats that double in size every two weeks
Native to the Amazon, its use as an ornamental spread it around the world as an invasive species; its dense mats choke waterways and kill fish
The water hyacinth is one of the fastest-growing plants, forming floating mats that double in size every two weeks
Native to the Amazon, its use as an ornamental spread it around the world as an invasive species; its dense mats choke waterways and kill fish
April 15, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Is this flower the scariest water plant?
The water hyacinth is one of the fastest-growing plants, forming floating mats that double in size every two weeks
Native to the Amazon, its use as an ornamental spread it around the world as an invasive species; its dense mats choke waterways and kill fish
The water hyacinth is one of the fastest-growing plants, forming floating mats that double in size every two weeks
Native to the Amazon, its use as an ornamental spread it around the world as an invasive species; its dense mats choke waterways and kill fish
We have updated our Waterwork Tier rankings to include Andean terraces
What do you think? Do you have a waterwork you'd recommend we check out?
What do you think? Do you have a waterwork you'd recommend we check out?
April 15, 2025 at 2:08 AM
We have updated our Waterwork Tier rankings to include Andean terraces
What do you think? Do you have a waterwork you'd recommend we check out?
What do you think? Do you have a waterwork you'd recommend we check out?
Did you know terraces increase land *and* water?
Andeans have built agricultural terraces since 1500 BCE; the Inka farmed ~4,000 sq mi of them
Made up of retaining walls holding flat land, one of their uses is to capture rain that'd otherwise flow off a hillside, allowing farming in arid mountains
Andeans have built agricultural terraces since 1500 BCE; the Inka farmed ~4,000 sq mi of them
Made up of retaining walls holding flat land, one of their uses is to capture rain that'd otherwise flow off a hillside, allowing farming in arid mountains
April 14, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Did you know terraces increase land *and* water?
Andeans have built agricultural terraces since 1500 BCE; the Inka farmed ~4,000 sq mi of them
Made up of retaining walls holding flat land, one of their uses is to capture rain that'd otherwise flow off a hillside, allowing farming in arid mountains
Andeans have built agricultural terraces since 1500 BCE; the Inka farmed ~4,000 sq mi of them
Made up of retaining walls holding flat land, one of their uses is to capture rain that'd otherwise flow off a hillside, allowing farming in arid mountains
Did you know South America's most important river system isn't necessarily the Amazon?
Coming together at an estuary flanked by Buenos Aires and Montevideo, the Rio de La Plata basin drains five countries and is home to 160 million, ~40% of South Americans
The Amazon is only home to 30 million
Coming together at an estuary flanked by Buenos Aires and Montevideo, the Rio de La Plata basin drains five countries and is home to 160 million, ~40% of South Americans
The Amazon is only home to 30 million
April 13, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Did you know South America's most important river system isn't necessarily the Amazon?
Coming together at an estuary flanked by Buenos Aires and Montevideo, the Rio de La Plata basin drains five countries and is home to 160 million, ~40% of South Americans
The Amazon is only home to 30 million
Coming together at an estuary flanked by Buenos Aires and Montevideo, the Rio de La Plata basin drains five countries and is home to 160 million, ~40% of South Americans
The Amazon is only home to 30 million
What's *your* body of water?
Ours is the Mighty Ohio
Ours is the Mighty Ohio
April 12, 2025 at 2:56 PM
What's *your* body of water?
Ours is the Mighty Ohio
Ours is the Mighty Ohio
Did you know that cute guy you met may have been a dolphin?
Called 'boto' in Brazil, the pink river dolphin is found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins
In Amazon folklore, botos shapeshift into a man who seduces and impregnates young women; kids of unknown paternity are called 'children of the boto'
Called 'boto' in Brazil, the pink river dolphin is found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins
In Amazon folklore, botos shapeshift into a man who seduces and impregnates young women; kids of unknown paternity are called 'children of the boto'
April 12, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Did you know that cute guy you met may have been a dolphin?
Called 'boto' in Brazil, the pink river dolphin is found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins
In Amazon folklore, botos shapeshift into a man who seduces and impregnates young women; kids of unknown paternity are called 'children of the boto'
Called 'boto' in Brazil, the pink river dolphin is found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins
In Amazon folklore, botos shapeshift into a man who seduces and impregnates young women; kids of unknown paternity are called 'children of the boto'
How big is the 'Orinoco Flow' that Enya made a song about it?
Due to its large rainy catchment area, Venezuela's Orinoco River is the world's fourth largest by flow
With a Warao name meaning 'place to paddle', it's navigable by ocean ships to Ciudad Bolivar and boats all the way to Puerto Ayacucho
Due to its large rainy catchment area, Venezuela's Orinoco River is the world's fourth largest by flow
With a Warao name meaning 'place to paddle', it's navigable by ocean ships to Ciudad Bolivar and boats all the way to Puerto Ayacucho
April 11, 2025 at 12:30 PM
How big is the 'Orinoco Flow' that Enya made a song about it?
Due to its large rainy catchment area, Venezuela's Orinoco River is the world's fourth largest by flow
With a Warao name meaning 'place to paddle', it's navigable by ocean ships to Ciudad Bolivar and boats all the way to Puerto Ayacucho
Due to its large rainy catchment area, Venezuela's Orinoco River is the world's fourth largest by flow
With a Warao name meaning 'place to paddle', it's navigable by ocean ships to Ciudad Bolivar and boats all the way to Puerto Ayacucho
What's it like living next to a literal lightning lake?
Due to unique weather conditions, Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo experiences the most lightning strikes in the world, ~233 per sq km/yr
The lightning's so reliable it's been used as a ship beacon, earning it the name 'Lighthouse of Maracaibo'
Due to unique weather conditions, Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo experiences the most lightning strikes in the world, ~233 per sq km/yr
The lightning's so reliable it's been used as a ship beacon, earning it the name 'Lighthouse of Maracaibo'
April 10, 2025 at 12:30 PM
What's it like living next to a literal lightning lake?
Due to unique weather conditions, Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo experiences the most lightning strikes in the world, ~233 per sq km/yr
The lightning's so reliable it's been used as a ship beacon, earning it the name 'Lighthouse of Maracaibo'
Due to unique weather conditions, Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo experiences the most lightning strikes in the world, ~233 per sq km/yr
The lightning's so reliable it's been used as a ship beacon, earning it the name 'Lighthouse of Maracaibo'