 | The examples and perspective in this articledeal primarily with the United States and do not represent aworldwide view of the subject. The specific issue is:only in the US would you define a reach between arbitrary features; normally they are set by the physics of sail You mayimprove this article, discuss the issue on thetalk page, orcreate a new article, as appropriate.(December 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Areach is a segment of a stream, river, orarm of the sea,[citation needed] usually suggesting a straight, level, uninterrupted stretch.[1][2]They are traditionally defined by thecapabilities of sailing boats, as a stretch of a watercourse which, because it is straightish, can be sailed in one "reach" (that is, withouttacking).
Reaches are often named by those using the river, and a reach may be named for landmarks, natural features, and historical reasons (see, for instance,Gallions Reach, named after the family that once owned its banks).
A reach may be an expanse, or widening, of a stream or river channel. This commonly occurs after the river or stream is dammed. A reach is similar to anarm, though an arm may bend and thus have multiple reaches. The term "reach" can also refer to a level stretch, as between river rapids or locks in acanal.[citation needed] The word may also be used more generally to refer to any extended portion or stretch of land or water, or even metaphorically.
Influvialhydrology, a reach is a convenient subdivision of study; it may be any length of river of fairly uniform characteristics, or the length betweengauging stations, or simply the length of a watercourse between any two defined points.[3][4] These may be measured in terms ofriver miles.
As of 2015, theUS Board on Geographic Names records 334 place names in the US with the characterization of a named "reach".[5]
