How is river left versus river right determined?

Determining river left versus river right is fundamentally grounded in the perspective of someone facing downstream, meaning you should look downstream to identify the sides of the river. When you look downstream, the left bank is on your left-hand side and the right bank is on your right-hand side. This is a standard convention used in navigation and water rescue operations to ensure clear communication and a shared understanding among team members. It is essential for safety during rescue operations, as using consistent terminology aids in giving precise directions.

While consulting a map or using GPS coordinates can provide geographical context and orientation, these methods do not establish which is river left or river right; they simply indicate location or provide additional navigational aids. Hence, focusing on the upstream or downstream perspective is crucial for accurately determining left and right in relation to a river.