Paraguay is landlocked, but it still maintains a navy that patrols its rivers.

The longer version

Rivers provide navigable routes even without a coastline, and controlling them matters for trade and border security. A navy on inland waterways patrols channels, moves supplies and maintains ports on the river system. Access to the sea comes through rivers that flow to a shared estuary downstream. Vessels built for rivers can still reach the ocean by travelling downstream through neighbouring countries.

The arrangement reflects history, when river transport was the fastest way to move goods and troops inland. Modern fleets on such waters are usually small, built for shallow drafts rather than open ocean. Crews also handle search, rescue and flood relief work. Many landlocked states keep boats on large lakes or rivers for similar practical reasons.

Where this entry sits

These facts wander across maps, borders, deserts, rivers, mountains, and the extreme corners of the natural world. Each one is short and self-contained, offering a small surprise about places you may never visit rather than anything you actually need. The full list sits on the Geography page, where every entry is listed in order.