Man has long-faced struggle against the elements, though it seems that waterways have truly presented one of the largest struggles in urban architecture. For decades, it seemed rivers flowing through urban areas were diverted or covered, but in recent years architects have embraced nature in an effort to restore valuable rivers.

An example of this restoration would be the efforts made by Los Angeles to restore 9,500 miles of river in urban areas. Yonkers rehabilitated the Saw Mill River, and Chicago continues to champion a beautiful new riverwalk project.

The reason? Bringing the river back as a natural habitat for native species, even in the face of modern architecture. Check out this recent documentary to see for yourself why rivers make a difference.

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Photos courtesy of archdaily.com. WXY Studio, Wikimedia Commons, chicagotonight.wttw.com