الفهرس 
AcknowledbmentsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Water is the source of life that has both controlled and yet provided for human existence and all flora and fauna on earth. What starts in the rain forest and flows into the rivers of the world exudes a magic that no other element possesses. It is this artery that, while sustaining life, creates a unique environment and a way of life at its edge. From the river to the lake, from the estuary to the ocean, the interaction of man and this edge has been the basis of a special
Relationship, one often characterized by potential danger but also by abundant rewards. I
Water is a fundamental attraction in all cultures and among all classes of people. It is a favorite location for celebrations and ceremonies, for evening picnics on the beaches of Bahrain, religious rites on the Ganges River in Benares, for dragon boat races in Shanghai, and for New Year’s oceanfront offerings for the goddess Eimanjia in Brazil. Whether for ritual or
Recreation, people seek the water’s ~dge.2
As Water was for some time the most important mean of transportation and thus, the growth of our communities have been at the mouth of navigable rivers, on bays, at key points along rivers, canals and waterways, or on the ocean. Our earliest commerce was water-related. But
The development of railroads in the 19th century expanded our geographic and commerce opportunities and triggered the cities’ shift away from their waterfronts. What were once front doors became back doors? As the world’s transportation network continued to evolve, highways became the dominant form of travel, resulting in urban sprawl. Urban areas abandoned their waterfronts, and central cities declined along with them.
But over time, waterfronts have been re-discovered and are now ”hot” real estate. The current interest in their revitalization stems from urban renewal programs following World War II. Though the primal focus of these programs was redeveloping the downtown core, if there was a waterfront it was identified as a later phase of the overall revitalization. Today, through the combined efforts of private developers and community officials, waterfronts are being .