River: Difference between revisions

River
Features	Disk
Blocks	Water; Grass Block; Dirt; Clay; Sand; Gravel; Sugar cane; Seagrass; Bush; Firefly Bush
Climate
Temperature	0.5
Downfall	0.5
Precipitation	Yes
Colors
Grass color	; #8EB971
Foliage color	; #71A74D
Water color	; #3F76E4‌[JE only]; ; #0084FF‌[BE only]

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Latest revision as of 08:24, 3 April 2025

A river is a common biome. Rivers can serve as borders between various other biomes, and usually lead to oceans, although they can also form loops.

Description[edit | edit source]

Rivers are thin, lengthy biomes that frequently generate across the Overworld, making up about 6.2% of the Overworld's area. They typically serve as a division between two different biomes, but can also split a single biome in two. They are filled with water up to sea level, though rivers may run dry in certain areas due to higher than usual elevation. Saddle valleys in mountains can generate rivers, but often too high so that there's not any water. Rivers can vary a lot in width and depth, in generally flat areas rivers are usually around 10 blocks deep but in mountainous regions rivers can reach over 30 blocks in depth which is comparable to deep oceans. Sometimes rivers can also generate as lakes with small islands. Rivers often make giant loops as well, due to a quirk in the terrain generator.

Salmon and squid may spawn here. Along the riverbanks, occasional bushes and firefly bushes can be found, and sugar cane grows adjacent to water. Exposed grass takes on a bluish-green hue, similar to the meadow and birch forest biomes, and oak trees can rarely generate where there is available space. Riverbeds consist of dirt, sand, gravel, and clay, and are one of the few places where clay generates, alongside lakes, swamp marshes, ocean hilltops, and lush caves. Atop the riverbed, seagrass commonly grows.

Neither passive nor hostile‌^{[BE only]} mobs (except drowned) spawn within river biomes themselves, but frequently wander into them from the surrounding biomes if they can spawn there. Drowned can spawn underwater, as can salmon and squid.

Mobs[edit | edit source]

The following mobs are naturally spawned here：

In **Java Edition**
Mob	Spawn weight	Group size
Monster category
Creeper	¹⁰⁰⁄₆₁₅	4
Drowned	¹⁰⁰⁄₆₁₅	1
Skeleton	¹⁰⁰⁄₆₁₅	4
Slime^{[note 1]}	¹⁰⁰⁄₆₁₅	4
Spider	¹⁰⁰⁄₆₁₅	4
Zombie	⁹⁵⁄₆₁₅	4
Enderman	¹⁰⁄₆₁₅	1–4
Witch	⁵⁄₆₁₅	1
Zombie Villager	⁵⁄₆₁₅	1
Underground water creature category
Glow Squid	1	4–6
Water creature category
Squid	1	1–4
Water ambient category
Salmon	1	1–5
Ambient category
Bat	1	8

↑ Spawn attempt succeeds only in slime chunks.

In **Bedrock Edition**
Mob	Spawn weight	Group size
Monster category
Creeper	¹⁰⁰⁄₆₁₅	1
Drowned	¹⁰⁰⁄₆₁₅	2–4
Skeleton	¹⁰⁰⁄₆₁₅	2
Slime^{[note 1]}	¹⁰⁰⁄₆₁₅	1
Spider	¹⁰⁰⁄₆₁₅	1
Zombie	⁹⁵⁄₆₁₅	4
Enderman	¹⁰⁄₆₁₅	2–3
Witch	⁵⁄₆₁₅	1
Zombie Villager	⁵⁄₆₁₅	2–4
Creature category
Glow Squid	¹⁰⁄₁₈	2–4
Squid	⁸⁄₁₈	2
Water creature category
Salmon	1	3–5

↑ Spawn attempt succeeds only in slime chunks.

Data values[edit | edit source]

ID[edit | edit source]

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	[hide]Translation key
River	`river`	`biome.minecraft.river`

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	[hide]Numeric ID
[No displayed name]	`river`	`7`

History[edit | edit source]

This section is missing information about: Legacy Console Edition.

Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.

[hide]Java Edition Beta
August 18, 2011		Notch tweeted a screenshot of a revamped river biome.
1.8	Pre-release	Added rivers as a separate biome. Previously, were generated as part of the terrain generation algorithm.
[hide]Java Edition
1.7.2	13w36a	River is now required for the new "Adventuring Time" achievement.
1.13	18w08b	Added salmon, which spawn in rivers.
	18w11a	Added drowned, which spawn in rivers.
	18w14a	Seagrass now generates in rivers.
1.13.1	18w31a	Squid now spawn only in oceans and rivers, making them slightly more common in rivers, as there are fewer places elsewhere for them to spawn.
1.18	experimental snapshot 4	River biomes are less likely to form a steep, dry river gorge in mountainous terrain. Instead, they either carve a fjord through it, or they raise the terrain to form a valley.
	experimental snapshot 4	Rivers that go through swamps tend to be more shallow.
	experimental snapshot 5	Rivers are less likely to be super deep or get choked off in flat areas.
	experimental snapshot 5	Rivers tend to get shallow and merge with swamps instead of carving through them.
1.21.5	25w05a	Added bushes and firefly bushes, which can generate in rivers.
[hide]Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.1.0		Added biomes, including rivers.
[hide]Bedrock Edition
1.2.13	beta 1.2.13.8	Added drowned, which spawn in river biomes.
1.4.0	beta 1.2.14.2	Added salmon, which spawn in rivers.
1.4.0	beta 1.2.14.2	Rivers now generate with seagrass.
1.13.0	beta 1.13.0.9	Squid can now spawn in rivers.
1.21.70 Experiment Drop 1 2025	Preview 1.21.70.20	Added bushes and firefly bushes, which can generate in rivers.

The first image of a river released by Notch.

Data history[edit | edit source]

[hide]Java Edition
1.13			17w47a				If numeric IDs for biomes were ever deprecated, it was most likely in this version.^[verify]

Issues[edit | edit source]

Issues relating to "River" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia[edit | edit source]

Rivers override ravines at or close to the surface level, causing the ravine to be abruptly cut off by a wall of stone. However, if the ravine is long enough, it may continue on the other side of the river.
- Ravines can generate underground in river biomes without being cut off.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Screenshots[edit | edit source]

A river biome before The Update that Changed the World.
A river near two forests.
A narrow river.
A river separating a desert and a forest.
Rivers splitting and cutting through a taiga.
A river running through a desert.
A river running between a forest and windswept hills, with a sunset in the background.
A river in Java Edition 1.18 Experimental Snapshot 1.
A river that failed to generate properly due to a nearby mountain.
A circular river surrounding a small plains biome.
A river running through a swamp.
A big river.
A river single biome world before 1.18.
A river connected to a large lake in a jungle.
A big river flowing past a village.
A big river flowing past a village.
A river next to a cherry grove.
Traveling by boat through a river.
A river flowing through a dark forest.
A weird "river" in the middle of a mesa.
Ditto, but with f3 screen for proof.
The Winding River seed template thumbnail.

In other media[edit | edit source]

A snifflet approaching a river.

External links[edit | edit source]

"Around the Block: River" by Duncan Geere – Minecraft.net, October 22, 2020.

Navigation[edit | edit source]

[Slime-1] Spawn attempt succeeds only in slime chunks.

[Slime-2] Spawn attempt succeeds only in slime chunks.

[note 1]

[note 1]

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 | watercolor = {{color|#3F76E4}}{{only|java|short=y}}<br>{{color|#0084FF}}{{only|bedrock|short=y}}
 | features = {{EnvLink|Disk}}
-| blocks = {{BlockLink|Water}}<br>{{BlockLink|Grass Block}}<br>{{BlockLink|Dirt}}<br>{{BlockLink|Clay}}<br>{{BlockLink|Sand}}<br>{{BlockLink|Gravel}}<br>{{BlockLink|Sugar cane}}<br>{{BlockLink|Seagrass}}
+| blocks = {{BlockLink|Water}}<br>{{BlockLink|Grass Block}}<br>{{BlockLink|Dirt}}<br>{{BlockLink|Clay}}<br>{{BlockLink|Sand}}<br>{{BlockLink|Gravel}}<br>{{BlockLink|Sugar cane}}<br>{{BlockLink|Seagrass}}<br>{{BlockLink|Bush}}<br>              {{BlockLink|Firefly Bush}}
 }}
 A '''river''' is a common [[biome]]. Rivers can serve as borders between various other biomes, and usually lead to [[ocean]]s, although they can also form loops.
 == Description ==
-Rivers are thin, lengthy biomes that frequently generate across the world. They typically serve as a division between two different biomes, but can also split a single biome in two. They are filled with [[water]] up to sea level, though rivers may run dry in certain areas due to higher than usual elevation. Saddle valleys in [[mountains]] can generate rivers, but often too high so that there's not any water. Rivers can vary a lot in width and depth, in generally flat areas rivers are usually around 10 blocks deep but in mountainous regions rivers can reach over 30 blocks in depth which is comparable to deep oceans. Sometimes rivers can also generate as lakes with small islands.
+Rivers are thin, lengthy biomes that frequently generate across the [[Overworld]], making up about 6.2% of the Overworld's area. They typically serve as a division between two different biomes, but can also split a single biome in two. They are filled with [[water]] up to sea level, though rivers may run dry in certain areas due to higher than usual elevation. Saddle valleys in [[mountains]] can generate rivers, but often too high so that there's not any water. Rivers can vary a lot in width and depth, in generally flat areas rivers are usually around 10 blocks deep but in mountainous regions rivers can reach over 30 blocks in depth which is comparable to deep oceans. Sometimes rivers can also generate as lakes with small islands. Rivers often make giant loops as well, due to a quirk in the terrain generator.
-Exposed grass in rivers takes on a bluish-green hue and oak trees can rarely generate along with spare grass. Riverbeds consist of [[dirt]], [[sand]], [[gravel]], and [[clay]], and are one of the few places where clay generates, alongside lakes, [[swamp]] marshes, ocean hilltops, and [[lush caves]]. [[Sugar cane]] occasionally generates on the riverbank. [[Salmon]] and [[squid]] may spawn here.
+[[Salmon]] and [[squid]] may spawn here. Along the riverbanks, occasional [[Bush|bushes]] and [[Firefly Bush|firefly bushes]] can be found, and [[Sugar Cane|sugar cane]] grows adjacent to water. Exposed grass takes on a bluish-green hue, similar to the meadow and birch forest biomes, and oak trees can rarely generate where there is available space. Riverbeds consist of [[dirt]], [[sand]], [[gravel]], and [[clay]], and are one of the few places where clay generates, alongside lakes, [[swamp]] marshes, ocean hilltops, and [[lush caves]]. Atop the riverbed, [[seagrass]] commonly grows.
-The grass color is turquoise green, similar to the meadow and birch forest biomes. Vegetation is sparse, with occasional [[oak]] trees. [[Seagrass]] generates atop the riverbed.
 Neither passive nor hostile{{only|bedrock|short=1}} [[mob]]s (except [[drowned]]) spawn within river biomes themselves, but frequently wander into them from the surrounding biomes if they can spawn there. Drowned can spawn underwater, as can [[salmon]] and [[squid]].
@@ Line 97: / Line 95: @@
 |{{HistoryLine||1.8|dev=Pre-release|Added rivers as a separate biome. Previously, were generated as part of the terrain generation algorithm.}}
 |{{HistoryLine|java}}
+|{{HistoryLine||1.7.2|dev=13w36a|River is now required for the new "Adventuring Time" [[Achievement/Java Edition|achievement]].}}
 |{{HistoryLine||1.13|dev=18w08b|Added [[salmon]], which spawn in rivers.}}
 |{{HistoryLine|||dev=18w11a|Added [[drowned]], which spawn in rivers.}}
 |{{HistoryLine|||dev=18w14a|[[Seagrass]] now generates in rivers.}}
-|{{HistoryLine||1.13.1|dev=18w31a|[[Squid]] now [[spawn]] only in [[ocean]]s and rivers, making them slightly more common in rivers, as there are fewer places elsewhere for them to spawn.}}
+|{{HistoryLine||1.13.1|dev=18w31a|[[Squid]] now [[Mob spawning|spawn]] only in [[ocean]]s and rivers, making them slightly more common in rivers, as there are fewer places elsewhere for them to spawn.}}
 |{{HistoryLine||1.18|dev=experimental snapshot 4|River biomes are less likely to form a steep, dry river gorge in mountainous terrain. Instead, they either carve a fjord through it, or they raise the terrain to form a valley.
 |Rivers that go through [[swamp]]s tend to be more shallow.}}
 |{{HistoryLine|||dev=experimental snapshot 5|Rivers are less likely to be super deep or get choked off in flat areas.
 |Rivers tend to get shallow and merge with swamps instead of carving through them.}}
+|{{HistoryLine||1.21.5|dev=25w05a|Added [[bush]]es and [[firefly bush]]es, which can generate in rivers.}}
 |{{HistoryLine|pocket alpha}}
@@ Line 113: / Line 113: @@
 |Rivers now generate with [[seagrass]].}}
 |{{HistoryLine||1.13.0|dev=beta 1.13.0.9|Squid can now spawn in rivers.}}
+|{{HistoryLine||1.21.70|exp=Drop 1 2025|dev=Preview 1.21.70.20|Added [[bush]]es and [[firefly bush]]es, which can generate in rivers.}}
 }}
 <gallery>
 NotchRiver.jpg|The first image of a river released by Notch.
 </gallery>
+=== Data history ===
+{{HistoryTable
+|{{HistoryLine|java}}
+|{{HistoryLine||1.13|dev=17w47a|If numeric IDs for biomes were ever deprecated, it was most likely in this version.{{verify|Can someone check whether this was the case or not?}}}}
+}}
 == Issues ==
@@ Line 128: / Line 136: @@
 === Screenshots ===
 <gallery>
-River pre 1.7.png|A river biome before [[The Update that Changed the World]].
+File:River pre 1.7.png|A river biome before [[The Update that Changed the World]].
-River (With Correct Grass Hue).png|A river near two forests.
+File:River (With Correct Grass Hue).png|A river near two forests.
-Narrow River.png|A narrow river.
+File:Narrow River.png|A narrow river.
-Minecraft River.png|A river separating a [[desert]] and a [[forest]].
+File:Minecraft River.png|A river separating a [[desert]] and a [[forest]].
-DoubleRiver.png|Rivers splitting and cutting through a taiga.
+File:DoubleRiver.png|Rivers splitting and cutting through a taiga.
-Desert River.png|A river running through a desert.
+File:Desert River.png|A river running through a desert.
-Sunsetriver.png|A river running between a [[forest]] and [[windswept hills]], with a sunset in the background.
+File:Sunsetriver.png|A river running between a [[forest]] and [[windswept hills]], with a sunset in the background.
-Worldgeneration-1.png|A river in [[Java Edition 1.18 Experimental Snapshot 1]].
+File:Worldgeneration-1.png|A river in [[Java Edition 1.18 Experimental Snapshot 1]].
-Overwritten River.png|A river that failed to generate properly due to a nearby [[mountain]].
+File:Overwritten River.png|A river that failed to generate properly due to a nearby [[mountain]].
-Crater Lake.png|A circular river surrounding a small [[plains]] biome.
+File:Crater Lake.png|A circular river surrounding a small [[plains]] biome.
-River through swamp.png|A river running through a swamp.
+File:River through swamp.png|A river running through a swamp.
-Bigriver.png|A big river.
+File:Bigriver.png|A big river.
-Buffet River.png|A river [[buffet]] world.
+File:Buffet River.png|A river [[single biome]] world before [[1.18]].
-Large lake meets river.png|A river connected to a large lake in a [[jungle]].
+File:Large lake meets river.png|A river connected to a large lake in a [[jungle]].
-Big River 1.jpg|A big river flowing past a village.
+File:Big River 1.jpg|A big river flowing past a village.
-Big River 2.jpg|A big river flowing past a village.
+File:Big River 2.jpg|A big river flowing past a village.
-Kai Stream.jpg|A river next to a [[cherry grove]].
+File:Kai Stream.jpg|A river next to a [[cherry grove]].
-River Boat.jpg|Traveling by boat through a river.
+File:River Boat.jpg|Traveling by boat through a river.
-Dark Forest River.jpg|A river flowing through a dark forest.
+File:Dark Forest River.jpg|A river flowing through a dark forest.
-Weird River.png|A weird "river" in the middle of a mesa.
+File:Weird River.png|A weird "river" in the middle of a mesa.
-Weird River Proof.png|Ditto, but with f3 screen for proof.
+File:Weird River Proof.png|Ditto, but with f3 screen for proof.
+File:Winding River.png|The Winding River [[Seed Templates|seed template]] thumbnail.
 </gallery>
@@ Line 163: / Line 172: @@
 == External links ==
-*[https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/around-block--river Around the Block: River] – Minecraft.net on October 22, 2020
+* {{Mcnet|around-block--river|Around the Block: River|Oct 22, 2020|Duncan Geere}}
 == Navigation ==