Navigability

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A body of water, such as a river, canal or lake, is navigable if it is deep and wide enough for a vessel to pass and there are no obstructions, like rocks, trees and low bridges. Shallow rivers may be made navigable by the installation of locks that increase & regulate water depth. A very high water speed may also make a channel unnavigable and high-latitude waters may be unnavigable in winter because of freezing. Navigability also depends on the size of the vessel: A small river may not be navigable by a freighter, but it might be navigable by a smaller craft, like a motor boat or kayak. Therefore, whether a water body is considered navigable or unnavigable depends on the context.