Nikhol River

The Nikhol River is the longest river on Nikhol, just under 200 miles long. The river flows from Kristovič Mountain, through Parsons City and the City of Nikhol, and empties into the Tropicle Sea at Cliff Town. It is the most important river on the Island.

## Course

The source of the river is the peak of Kristovič Mountain, where rain, melting snow, and underground springs feed the river. The river flows towards Parsons City, in a relatively straight line for the flat plain it runs through. The river splits at Parsons City, with the Nikhol River continuing south. The river then meanders southeast towards the City of Nikhol. This part of the river has been deepened to allow river boats access to the City. The river passes through the heart of the City, cutting it in two. The City is home to the Neck, a narrow part of the river, which is also the normal end of navigation. After the river leaves the City, the river turns east, and enters the Hrkvian Canyon. The river tumbles over rocks through the canyon to the Tropicle Sea at Cliff Town.

Due to the Hrvkian Canyon, ships cannot navigate the river between the City of Nikhol and Cliff Town. Prior to the construction of the Cross-Island Canal, the river system was not open to the sea.

## History

The river is thought to have been formed around four million years ago. It is though originally the river's mouth was a waterfall off the cliffs of the southeast of the Island. As time passed, this waterfall turned into the Hrkvian Canyon.

The river has been important since the settlement of wizards on the Island, as the first permanent settlement, Cliff Town, is situated at the mouth of the river. As wizards explored more inland, they followed the river to the Neck, the narrowest place of the river. The wizards founded a settlement at the Neck, called North Town, which is now Old Town in the City of Nikhol today. This settlement was made the capitol when Harisol Dirovich moved the capitol from First Town (today Cliff Town) in 140 BW.

During the Conquest, the river proved to be useful to the wizards, as the Hrkvian Canyon prohibited Ancient forces from using the river to attack. After the Conquest, Christopher the Great sailed up the river from the start of the Canyon to Palace Island, to re-found North Town as the City of Nikhol.

The wizards eventually continued to move up the river, founding a town called Split City at the fork in the river. Many years ago, the river turned south here, and there was no fork. At some point, it is not know when, the river started to flow south west, down what is now the Parsons River, forming the fork. As time went on, the river started to move more and more water down the Parsons River, instead of the Nikhol River. With the prospect of the Nikhol River drying up completely, the river was deepened in 534 WR in an effort to keep water in the Nikhol River channel, and also to allow larger boats to travel up and down this section of river. While this helped for some time, it ultimately did not prevent the river from shifting to the Parsons River.

To ensure water stays in the Nikhol River, the Nikhol-Parsons River Authority was created in 589 WR, tasked with keeping the water flows consistent with the old flows. Annually, the Authority would clear the silt that would build up along the Nikhol River side of the split, and move it to the Parsons River side, to promote water flow down the Nikhol River. This process stayed the same for over a thousand years.

In 1879 WR, the Cross-Island Canal was completed, using the water from the Parsons River to work the locks. This water demand once again drew water away from the Nikhol River, and down the Parsons River. To combat this, the Canal Authority and Nikhol-Parsons River Authority were merged into the Island Waterway Authority in 1887 WR. The IWA first created a water pump to pump water from the bottom of the canal to the top to help feed the locks. Secondly, they created a dam at the fork, which changed the make-up of the fork. The area of the for was made entirely of concrete, and a moveable lever arm was erected from the end of the fork to direct the water flow. This is the system that has been in place ever since. Thanks to the introduction of free magic as a utility by King Tijal V, the river arm is able to run off magic, and be repaired whenever necessary.

The river continues to flow today as mightly as it had in the past, thanks to the effort of the IWA.