Urce River

Urce River
XXX bridge across the Urce River
Location
Country	Urcea
Physical characteristics
Mouth
• elevation	0 ft (0 m)
Depth
• average	30 ft (9.1 m)
• maximum	202 ft (62 m)
Discharge
• average	21,900 cu ft/s (620 m3/s)
Discharge
• average	17,400 cu ft/s (490 m3/s)
• minimum	882 cu ft/s (25.0 m3/s)
• maximum	215,000 cu ft/s (6,100 m3/s)

The Urce River is a major waterway in western Urcea, which derives its name from the river basin. It is the primary riverway for much of the Urcean heartland and the capital of Urcea sits on its banks. It is a wide and deep river capable of hosting significant shipping and other waterbound traffic far into the mainland, and inland serves as a connection point for the Carolina-Grand Canal.

Geography and watershed

Mouth

At its mouth, the Urce River forms a minor delta and is beset by a large area of salt marshes surrounding the natural channel which allows riverine commerce. For most of human history, this area was largely unsuitable for construction of ports or commercial use of any kind, contributing to the growth of Urceopolis as the primary port on the Urce River. Accordingly, the area surrounding the mouth of the river remains one of the best preserved natural areas throughout the Valley, with the only major settlement - Urceport - having been constructed in the 1800s.

History

Kingdom and Expansion

With the establishment of a unified Urcean Kingdom and the subsequent conquest of the Creagmer republics during the 12th century, the Urce River exploded in commercial activity. It gradually also became the primary corridor of commercial entry into Urcea by means of an emergent customs system centered on Urceopolis and Beldra.