Navigability

{{short description|Capacity of a body of water to allow the passage of vessels at a given time}}

{{Short description|Capacity of a body of water to allow the passage of vessels at a given time}}

[[File:Navigation markers gnangarra.jpg|thumb|Navigation markers, entrance of [[Fremantle, Western Australia|Fremantle harbour]] and the [[Swan River, Western Australia]]]]

A [[body of water]], such as a [[river]], [[canal]] or [[lake]], is '''navigable''' if it is deep, wide and calm enough for a [[water vessel]] (e.g. boats) to pass safely. Navigability is also referred to in the broader context of a body of water having sufficient [[under keel clearance]] for a vessel.{{cite book | last=Gilardoni | first=Eduardo O. | last2=Presedo | first2=Juan P. | title=Navigation in Shallow Waters | publisher=[[Witherby Publishing Group]] | publication-place=Livingston, Scotland | date=2017 | isbn=978-1-85609-667-6}}

[[File:Navigation markers gnangarra.jpg|thumb|Navigation markers, entrance of [[Fremantle|Fremantle harbour]] and the [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]], [[Western Australia]]]]

Such a navigable water is called a ''[[waterway]]'', and is preferably with few obstructions against direct traverse that need avoiding, such as [[Rock (geology)|rock]]s, [[reef]]s or [[tree]]s. [[Bridge]]s built over waterways must have sufficient [[air draft|clearance]]. High [[discharge (hydrology)|flow speed]] may make a [[channel (geography)|channel]] unnavigable due to risk of [[ship collision]]s. Waters may be unnavigable because of [[ice]], particularly in winter or high-[[latitude]] regions. Navigability also depends on context: a small river may be navigable by smaller craft such as a [[motorboat]] or a [[kayak]], but unnavigable by a larger [[cargo ship|freighter]] or [[cruise ship]]. Shallow rivers may be made navigable by the installation of [[canal locks|locks]] that regulate flow and increase upstream [[water level]], or by [[dredging]] that deepens parts of the [[stream bed]].

A [[body of water]], such as a [[canal]], [[lake]], [[reservoir]]s, or [[river]], is '''navigable''' if it is deep, wide and calm enough for a [[watercraft]] (e.g. boats) to pass safely. Navigability is also referred to in the broader context of a body of water having sufficient [[under keel clearance]] for a vessel.{{cite book | last=Gilardoni | first=Eduardo O. | last2=Presedo | first2=Juan P. | title=Navigation in Shallow Waters | publisher=[[Witherby Publishing Group]] | publication-place=Livingston, Scotland | date=2017 | isbn=978-1-85609-667-6}}

Such a navigable water is called a ''[[waterway]]'', and is preferably with few obstructions against direct traverse that need avoiding, such as [[rock (geology)|rock]]s, [[reef]]s or [[tree]]s. [[Bridge]]s built over waterways must have sufficient [[air draft|clearance]]. High [[discharge (hydrology)|flow speed]] may make a [[channel (geography)|channel]] unnavigable due to risk of [[ship collision]]s. Waters may be unnavigable because of [[ice]], particularly in winter or high-[[latitude]] regions. Navigability also depends on context: a small river may be navigable by smaller craft such as a [[motorboat]] or a [[kayak]], but unnavigable by a larger [[cargo ship|freighter]] or [[cruise ship]]. Shallow rivers may be made navigable by the installation of [[canal locks|locks]] that regulate flow and increase upstream [[water level]], or by [[dredging]] that deepens parts of the [[stream bed]].

==Inland water transport systems==

==Inland water transport systems==