Why were factories often built near rivers?

o Factory owners like to be able to watch the water.
o Rivers were able to provide hydroelectric power to run machines.
o It was easy for visitors to travel to the factories to take tours.

Rivers were often chosen as the location for factories due to their several practical advantages. First, rivers provided a source of water for industrial processes such as manufacturing, cooling, and sanitation. Second, rivers played a crucial role in transportation as they allowed for the movement of raw materials, finished goods, and supplies via barges and boats. This made it convenient and cost-effective to transport large quantities of goods to and from the factories. Additionally, rivers were a source of power for early industrial machinery. Waterwheels and later hydroelectric power systems utilized the force of the river's current to generate energy for running machines, reducing the reliance on manual labor. Therefore, the availability of water, transportation accessibility, and power generation capabilities made rivers an attractive choice for locating factories.

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Rivers were able to provide hydroelectric power to run machines.