Reach (geography)

The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide 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 may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. (December 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

A reach is a segment of a stream, river, or arm of the sea,^{[citation needed]} usually suggesting a straight, level, uninterrupted stretch.^[1][2] They are traditionally defined by the

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 an arm, 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 a canal.^{[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.

In

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  Example: Hanford Reach National Monument, Washington State, US. The last significant free-running (undammed) section of the Columbia River in the US
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  A map of the reaches of the River Thames; it can be seen that a reach is a straightish stretch (and can therefore be sailed in one reach, one straight-line path between tacks, unless the wind is too close to head-on to allow the sailing-boat to reach)
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  Thames barges reaching on the Thames during a race; they are probably on Gravesend Reach

Look up reach in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Meander
• Rapid
• Stream pool

References