Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A national river is a river that is entirely within one country and is owned by that country. It is a natural body of water that flows into another body of water, like a lake or sea. Unlike an international river, which flows through multiple countries, a national river is only within one country's borders. A private river is a river that a person or group may claim ownership of the riverbed, but if it is navigable, it cannot be closed to public use.
A national river is a river that is wholly contained within a single country, and that country has exclusive territorial rights over the river. It is different from an international river, which flows through or between two or more countries.
These examples illustrate the definition of a national river because they are both rivers that are contained within a single country, and that country has exclusive rights over the river. In the case of the Mississippi River, the United States has the right to regulate the river and use it for transportation, irrigation, and other purposes. Similarly, in England, the Thames River is under the jurisdiction of the British government.