how can a river flow upstream?

Question

I have been trying to figure this one out for a while. A month ago we went fishing and the part of the river we were fishing looked like it was flowing upstream. I know this has to be impossible since water will only travel downhill due to the forces of gravity. And it was obvious that the direction that the water was flowing towards was higher in elevation. So how else might this be explained?

Answer 1

If the water passes over or around a ledge or obstruction, there can be a reverse current right behind the feature. Kayakers use these to stop during a run through heavy current and they can also surf on the waves that are created behind river features. All-in-all, the water flows downhill.

Answer 2

I GOT THIS ONE!!!!!!

was there steep banks on both sides of the upstreem?... if so this is my theory.....

The Roman aquaducts flowed uphill!!! simply by a "syphoning" action. If the stream is flowing fairly fast and as long as the "upgrade" is not higher than the mountain its flowing from the water will have enough force to go uphill some ways..... but i think the side banks of the upgrade would have to be fairly steep to maintain the water channel while it went up till it could eventually go down again and actually causing a vacum that helps this entire process happen.... water sticks to water

many factors coming into balance at the right time. :)

or the wind was simply blowing the water in the oposite way of the actual flow so it only appeared to be moving upstream.

CROWN ME BABY!

Answer 3

Portions of river may appear to flow upstream due to downstream turbulence. In large-scale floods, a small river may flow backwards because the river it discharges into has a higher elevation due to flooding. Another event that may cause backup is a blockage downstream by natural means or an earthquake.

Answer 4

The river must have been near where it enters the ocean and was being affected by the tide change of the ocean. As the tide rises it in effect starts to back up the river in some cases, then when the tide drops the river velocity increases as it flows out to the ocean. You are right the river cannot defy gravity, it must be effected by an outside force.

Answer 5

1. It is possible that minor eddy currents can be flowing in opposite direction when strong current is chanellised along uneven banks.
2. Strong upstream wind can create upstream wave movement in a normal flowing river.

Answer 6

hahaha.

I saw this place in mexico where I stoped my truck on the road, I did not park it or get out or anything, just left it neutralized, when I released the brake it soon began to roll upwards. Strange but true.

Some say it was an optical illusion, the mountain is slanted a little and makes it look as if it rolled upwards, others say due to the volcano nearby.

Not really sure but I know it happens.

Answer 7

It is an optical illusion like those roads where cars seem to roll uphill. The mind sees a horizon based on all sorts of things including your own stance and balance and judges angles against it. If the apparent horizon is not level, rivers can seem to flow uphill.

Answer 8

Not all rivers flow downstream...A long time ago the Chicago river was dug out and forced to flow upstream!

Answer 9

Maybe it was a slight bump in the river bed but really the overall flow of direction was down?

Answer 10

i'm unsure why levees could impact the delta, yet dams will seize sediment which will no longer attain the delta, so because of fact the delta keeps to subside it extremely is no longer being replenished with sediment. it is going to finally disappear, like New Orleans.