Wanderlust World Wanderlust World A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, that moves under gravity toward an ocean, sea, lake, or another river. It is defined by its channel and flow.
An island is a landmass completely surrounded by water and smaller than a continent. It is defined by its isolation by water.
Key distinction: A river is a body of moving water; an island is a body of land. Rivers can flow around, through, or past islands, but they are fundamentally different geographic features.