Rabat, Morocco

River ferries can be just as important as sea ferries. These small boats await the opportunity to ferry people across the Bou Regreg River from Rabat to Salé. Of course, service may have been upgraded over the past three decades. [1989]

West End, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Here is some guidance for predicting ferry connections in the Lesser Antilles. Islands close to one another will have daily connections. Islands far away will have no connection (fly!). Islands in between near and far will have limited connections, as in limited to several days a week. [2014]

Mellieha, Malta

Off to Gozo it goes. A ride on the Gozo Channel ferry allows you to see all three islands of the Maltese archipelago: Malta, Gozo, and Camino. Which two are visible here? In archipelagic states, ferry links are not a luxury; they are a necessity. [2009]

Elizabeth City, North Carolina, USA

Retired, with two dogs and a boat. For them, it must be a dream come true. The Pasquotank River and the re-purposed Elizabeth City waterfront make a beautiful backdrop for the day's activities. The captain and his first mate may be navigating the Intracoastal Waterway with enough time to explore some of the Albemarle's tidal creeks. [2020]

Oranjestad, Aruba

Aruba's cruise-industry advantages: warm breezy climate year-round, location south of the hurricane belt, exotic small-island ambiance with European overtones, sheltered west coast. Aruba's cruise-industry disadvantages: farther from the market than its competitors, no natural deep-water harbors, unapproachable east coast. [2017]

Harborton, Virginia, USA

Harborton is one of the most picturesque towns on Virginia's Eastern Shore. It has retained a post office (and, therefore, an identity) of its own. It also seems to be proud of its postal history. To see more of Harborton's postal identity, check out Geographically Yours Welcome today. The entire month is devoted to postmarks and post offices of Accomack County. [1992]

Cruz Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

A case of asymmetric aesthetics: Home builders have crept up the slope to gain oversight of the harbor. Their views have improved. Boat owners have anchored in a harbor ringed by lush, forest-covered slopes. Their views have deteriorated as trees succumb to houses. Fast forward to see how many more houses degrade the viewshed from the water. [2014]

Beaufort, North Carolina, USA

Fall comes to the Carolina Coast. Today, in fact, is the first full day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. Blue skies reflected in still waters are a trademark of the season, but the story of seasonal change is told by the transition of the cordgrass marshes from summery green to autumny gold. [2021]

Tangier Island, Virginia, USA

It may be a single island, but the habitable portions constitute only three ridges: Main Ridge (skyline seen here), West Ridge, and Canton Ridge. In between the ridges are marshes and slivery fingers of the Chesapeake Bay. Tangier is accessible only by boat and small aircraft. [2022]

DeSoto, Wisconsin, USA

The Mississippi River in Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary, 3rd ed., 1997, p. 748: "Navigable river, cen. U.S.; rises in Lake Itasca, NW Minnesota, flows . . . into the Gulf of Mexico through several mouths known locally as The Passes – Main Pass, North Pass, South Pass, Southwest Pass; 2340 mi." High water! [2019] 

Bismarck, North Dakota, USA

The Missouri River in Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary, 3rd ed., 1997, p. 750: "River; cen. and NW cen. U.S.; formed by confluence of Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers in Gallatin co., S Montana; . . . joins the Mississippi River ab. 10 mi. N of St. Louis; 2466 mi." [2021]

Leavenworth, Indiana, USA

The Ohio River in Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary, 3rd ed., 1997, p 861: "Navigable river in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois; formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at Pittsburgh . . .; empties into Mississippi River at Cairo, S extremity of Illinois; 975 mi." This is Horseshoe Bend. [2022]

Panyee, Thailand

In the floating village of Panyee, back in the 1980s, the boys built a floating soccer field and conditioned themselves to play in the local, regional, and then national championships. Do you think they overcame the odds and won any titles? Guess you'll just have to read The Floating Field (2021) by Scott Riley. [2011]

Panyee, Thailand

In Panyee, the boys could play soccer for only the shortest periods of time. That's because there was no dry land in the floating village. Only when the tide was out could they play on an emergent sandbar. When the tide came back in, the game was over! But, was there a better way? To find out, read The Floating Field (2021) by Scott Riley. [2011]

Panyee, Thailand

A successful place generates a literature of its own, a corpus of stories that eventually get put to paper. Such is the case with the floating village of Panyee. Want to know how unique life is here? Read The Floating Field (2021) by Scott Riley, which is about how a group of boys, in the 1980s, built their own soccer field out on the waters of Phang Nga Bay. [2011]

Louisville, Kentucky, USA

The northeastern seaboard dominated America's urban geography in the early 1800s. But by mid-century, a network of river cities in the trans-Appalachian west began to challenge the existing order. By 1840, Louisville was solidly among the "top 20" urban places in the U.S., and it held that status for at least four decades. Why? Location on the Ohio River. [2022]

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Anchor Cities of Megalopolis: Baltimore. Fifty million people (one out of six American) live in Megalopolis. Its dominance of the U.S. economy was established centuries ago, and it has held. In fact, wrote Jean Gottmann, in no other place in the world are there so many large cities so close to each other. It's a constellation as unique as that tall ship. Get it? [2021]

Port Neches, Texas, USA

No crude oil tanker should look this good. She must have just emerged from an overhaul. No mooring station should look this good either. The Eagle Kuantan seems to be ready for a movie shoot in this ersatz park along the Neches River. Given the name Kuantan, in what country do you think this vessel is registered? Sounds Malay, doesn't it? (Answer: Singapore) [2022]

Cardiff, Wales, UK

Cardiff's Mermaid Quay was developed over two decades ago. To the new waterfront was brought the Helwick Sands lightship, where it became a "floating Christian centre." Light towers have long been a favorite symbol of Christianity. Alas, the ship has since been moved to a harbor in England. [2015]

Hatteras Village, North Carolina, USA

Kayaks for rent, but not this time of year. They are on their winter break, and their only duty is to pretty-up a fabled island on the Outer Banks, an island where it is difficult to find anything open in January and February. Why should kayak be one of your favorite words? Because it's a palindrome. [2019]