Which River Is Known As The Silver River?

Most‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ of our planet earth is covered with water that is passing through different channels. Numerous rivers on Earth drain into large river basins. However, nature has its own wonders.

In terms of volume, the Amazon is the world's largest river, while the Nile, running through Africa, is the longest. Often, people give rivers unique names, as they are vital. 

While the Mississippi River is called the 'Father of Rivers', the Huang He River, which is mainly in China, is known as the Yellow River. 

But do you know which river is known as the Silver River? This well-known water body is located in South America. 

A magnificent estuary is formed here, where huge rivers meet the sea. Its incredible size and long history have made it famous. 

In this article, we will take a look at the history, geography, and the reason behind this shimmering nickname.

ALSO READ| Which River Is Known As The Diamond River Of India?

Which River Is Known As The Silver River?

The river known as the Silver River is the Río de la Plata. It is located on the southeastern coast of South America. 

This massive body of water begins at the point where the Paraná River and the Uruguay River join together. It flows toward the southeast for about 180 miles before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. 

Along its path, the river forms a natural border between the countries of Argentina and Uruguay. 

Many people call it a river, but it is actually a very wide estuary where freshwater and seawater mix. It is famous for being the widest river in the world, stretching over 130 miles wide at its mouth.

IN CASE YOU MISSED| Which River Is Known As The Gold River Of India?

10 Lesser-Known Facts About the Río de la Plata

• If measured as a river, it is the widest on Earth, reaching a maximum width of about 220 kilometres.
• Early explorer Juan Díaz de Solís originally named it "Mar Dulce" because its massive size made it look like a sea of fresh water.
• The name "Silver River" comes from a 16th-century legend about a mountain of silver that explorers hoped to find upstream.
• Argentina‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ was named after the Latin word argentum, which means silver, due to the river.
• The river is where you can mainly find the La Plata dolphin, which is among the few dolphin species that reside in brackish estuarine ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌waters.
• In 1939, it was the site of the Battle of the River Plate, the first major naval battle of World War II.

• A submerged shoal called Barra del Indio acts as a hidden wall that keeps the inner part of the river fresh and the outer part salty.
• The river carries about 57 million cubic metres of silt every year, which creates its unique muddy brown colour visible from space.
• Even though it is massive, the tides from the Atlantic Ocean can be felt over 190 kilometres inland up its tributary rivers.
• Its shores support the two capital cities of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, making it one of the most populated river regions in South America.

Why is Río de la Plata known as the Silver River?

The term "Silver River" comes from the Spanish name "Río de la Plata", which literally means "River of Silver". This name dates back to the 16th century when the first European explorers reached South America.

The explorer Aleixo Garcia learnt from the natives about a "White King" who was said to rule over a land rich in precious metals. ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌Later explorers, like Sebastian Cabot, found local tribes wearing silver ornaments.

They believed the river led to a mountain of silver. Even though there were no silver mines along the riverbanks, the legend grew.

The explorers thought that if they sailed up this wide waterway, they would reach the wealthy Inca Empire or find hidden treasures in the mountains of present-day Bolivia.

Eventually, the name became so well-known that the entire region became associated with the metal. This is why the country on its western bank is called Argentina, which comes from argentum, the Latin word for silver.

Science Behind the Silver River

Here is the scientific explanation of why the Río de la Plata looks like silver, broken down into simple points:

• The river carries millions of tonnes of sand, clay, and silt from the Paraná and Uruguay Rivers. This material remains suspended in the water instead of sinking. 
• Because the estuary is wide and shallow, the water surface remains flat. It serves as a large, natural mirror.
• At sunrise or sunset, the sun is near the horizon, and the light comes to the water at a certain angle. In this case, a "specular reflection" happens, and the light bounces straight off the surface to your eyes.
• It‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ is the tiny mineral particles of silt that can scatter and reflect sunlight. For that reason, the natural muddy brown colour gets changed to a stunning, metallic shine.
• It is the interplay of a certain set of weather and light conditions that makes the whole water surface look like liquid silver, thus making its very popular nickname a ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌fact.

WHAT'S NEXT| Which River Is Known As The Old Man River?