> : A quick glance at the Inland Planner Map, suggests (to me) around > 15-20% > > > Sounds about right, even the broads aren't natural rivers but were man > made > > -- > Brian Ancient Order of Sewer Ants > I think the difference from the US was that in the canal era the UK was much more densely populated so the labour to make artificial waterways was available. According to Paget-Tomlinson many rivers had been navigated since before recorded history; improvements often preceded the canal age and were a reaction to increased traffic and vessel size. British rivers are much smaller than many European and American ones.
Sean
