A riparian zone is the interface between land and a flowing surface water body. Plant communities along the river margins are called riparian vegetation, characterized by hydrophilic plants. Riparian zones are significant in ecology, environmental management, and civil engineering due to their role in soil conservation, their biodiversity, and the influence they have on aquatic ecosystems. Riparian zones occur in many forms including grassland, woodland, wetland or even non-vegetative. In some regions the terms riparian woodland, riparian forest, riparian buffer zone or riparian strip are used to characterize a riparian zone. The word "riparian" is derived from Latin ripa, meaning river bank.

I didn't even know what the word 'riparian' meant to a few days ago. I found a new place to swim at the end of a nature trail not far from where I live. It was nice to just go jump into the river right after I got off work. I didn't even know it was so close. Was nice to just watch the wildlife while swimming. Just wondering if there any other nature lovers out there.

i love nature and i live by myself on 20 acres and i love just taking long walks or even staying outside really late i love the nature and wildlife

Nature's amazing, its harmony and peacefullness. I love taking long walks in the forest preserve, just listening to the birds and the wind play in the leaves.

Sounds wonderful....I love nature. I get out to search out some of the local State Parks as often as possible in my area. Just love to watch the wildlife.

absolutely! All I hear is the crickets and the wind... I love my little slice of the world

I love nature!!!
I have been lucky enough to camp out pretty much all summer.
I have seen: owls, eagles, deer, all kinds of wonderful creatures...
We need to get back to nature more often! Just sit there and
be in awe of it all...

I have always found nature to be amazing. It was a real joy to feel this oneness with nature this morning. The water felt really good. I had went the other night and was a little worried about snakes but none bothered me. I have noticed many road runners out in my neck of the woods. It is one thing to watch nature shows but really one just has to get out there in nature to really enjoy it.

I have my property upstate NY, it's about 4 acres. I have my cabin, my tranquility and piece of mind there. Whenever it gets to be too much, I need my ESCAPE from the real world. I just get in the car and head towards my piece of the woods

oooo puffins! A cabin in the woods... I am sooooo jealouse!

Definately love the harmony and peacefulness. Some of the animals and vegetation near the river bank I don't have on the four acres I live on. The birds are especially interesting to watch.

we call them buffers here in this state its part of the forest practice act that all buffers be 200 feet wide and are federaly protected i love walking these buffers taking pics of the little waterfalls with the moss coverd rocks