Ōmizu River

The Ōmizu River [尬水; おうみず] is a river which flows from within Kigen Prefecture through Heisai Prefecture and into the north sea by Mizusada Bay. It is one of the major rivers of the Zōku region, and a very important waterway for the Haidatsu area. Its major tributaries include the Yūnata, Hongata and Hora Rivers.
The Ōmizu was known once for its uncontrollable nature, and its route changed whenever floods occurred. It is hard to trace its ancient route, but it originally flowed further north than it does now, and tributaries like the Yūnata had independent river systems. For the sake of water transportation and flood control, extensive construction began in the 17th century under the Monda administration, during which the course of the Ōmizu was significantly changed and the present route established.
The river was an indispensable inland water link between the prefectures of Heisai and Kigen, which were otherwise separated by mountainous regions. It not only carried local products like seafood from Heisai, but also products from the further-north Haidatsu territories, such as Ganyama. Using the Ōmizu was very effective as it saved time and avoided risk on the open sea. With the advent of the railway in the 19th century major shipping on the Ōmizu quickly declined, and inland ports such as Mizusada, Inewa and Itsu diminished in importance. Today the river has several dams that supply water for more than 60,000 inhabitants of the central and eastern Heisai region.
Category:Rivers