A waterway is any navigable body of water that can be used by watercraft. Waterways are crucial for transportation, recreation, and environmental processes. They include: Rivers and Canals: Inland waterways used for transportation of goods and passengers. They are often vital for commercial shipping within continents. Oceans and Seas: Larger bodies of salt water, connecting different countries and continents, fundamentally important for international trade. Lakes: Large bodies of freshwater, used for both transportation and recreation, depending on their size and location.