By Kris Thoreson Click here to take ENN's river quiz. From the mighty Mississippi River in the United States to the grand Nile River in Africa, streamside, or riparian , habitat has played a defining role in the history and character of the land around it.
Riparian habitat occurs alongside the largest rivers and smallest streams.
Big or small, riparian areas constitute some of the most essential habitat on the planet. They add ribbons of green to a desert landscape. They provide a highly diverse ecosystem in highest mountain range. Riparian habitat occupies an extremely small percentage of Earth's total land mass, yet it is crucial to the biodiversity found within its boundaries. Situated next to rivers and streams, riparian habitat also comprises some of the most productive and beautiful land on Earth.