Describe an important river in your country

May 15, 2022

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Describe an important river/lake in your country

IELTS speaking part 2 and part 3 example answers – with audio

Describe an important river/lake in your country

you should say:

What the river/lake is
How you know about it
How long or big it is

And explain why you think it’s important to your country.

Example 1

“I think the most important river in Vietnam has to be the Mekong river, as it’s a waterway that millions of Vietnamese people still rely on today, especially in the very south of the country, also known as the mekong delta.

I guess I first learned about the river back when I was a kid in primary school during geography class. I still remember learning that this great river is about 5,000 kilometres long with its source somewhere in Tibet, and flows through a number of countries, such as Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia before reaching the Mekong Delta in Vietnam.

The river is still of huge importance to Vietnam today, and the Mekong Delta actually provides more than one-third of Vietnam’s food, especially rice, as well as every kind of fruit under the sun.

It’s also one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world, with thousands of different plant and animal species relying upon it for their survival, including some very rare and endangered species.

The Mekong is of course also very important for tourism, and millions of people flock to the Mekong Delta in the south of Vietnam every year to visit this amazing and incredibly beautiful area,with a very unique culture where life hasn’t changed so much over the years.

Thank you…”

Example 2

Describe an important river or lake in your country.

“I’d like to describe Hoan Kiem , or sword lake, which is located right in the centre of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Sword lake is not only famous for its beauty, but also its cultural and historical importance, as well as being one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hanoi.

The lake and the legend surrounding it is known by all Vietnamese people, and I guess every young child, including myself, learns about the story involving a hero, a giant turtle, and a magic sword.

The lake is not only important in history, but is also one of the most beautiful and picturistic sites in all of Hanoi, and a must see site for anyone visiting the city. The area around the lake is at its best on weekends when traffic is banned and the streets take on a really fun, almost carnival vibe, with a mix of locals and tourists from all over the world.

I think the lake is almost like the heart of Hanoi city, and is not only of great historical and cultural importance, but is also very important for tourism….. It’s also a very special place for locals to escape the hustle and bustle of this very busy city, and every morning, from about 6am you can see many local residents practise tai chi around the lake. So I really think that Hoan Kiem lake is of great importance, and is like a national treasure for the people of Vietnam.

Thank you.”

Part 3 questions – Describe an important river or lake in your country

What activities do people like to do on or near the water in your country?

“I think people enjoy many different kinds of activities on the water especially when the weather is good. In the bigger cities such as Saigon or Hanoi, short cruises are very popular with both tourists and locals, and give a very different view of these great cities…..Fishing of course is very popular all over the country on both rivers and lakes, and you can even see people fishing on the banks of rivers or lakes in the busy cities today…… During the summer many people enjoy swimming to cool off from the hot sun, and Vietnam has a lot of great beaches all along its coast, which attract tourists all year long.

Do you think it’s important to protect rivers and lakes?

“Yes, I believe it’s absolutely vital to protect our waterways, as so much life depends on water, both human and nature. People often depend on rivers for their way of life and their livelihoods,from fishing to agriculture, so the way we protect our waterways has a direct impact on people’s lives.

For example the Mekong river has suffered from overfishing, and fish stocks are starting to disappear, which is a huge problem…..what’s more, the many newly constructed dams and hydro projects along the river have changed the natural flow which has also had a very negative effect on the biodiversity…. So, I really think we must try to do more to protect our rivers and lakes.”

Why do you think some people like to live close to the water?

“Personally, I think many people like to live close to the water, because there is always something to do, such as fishing, swimming, boating or just going for a nice relaxing walk. Furthermore, there’s usually less noise pollution if you are living next to a nice lake or beach, and getting away from the hustle and bustle is something I think everybody appreciates these days….another thing is that a lot of people just simply love nature, and there is often a lot of wildlife to be found or spotted around water”