Editing Whitewater (section)

{{Short description|Turbulent and aerated water}}
{{Other uses|Whitewater (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Wild water|other uses|Wild Water (disambiguation){{!}}Wild Water}}
{{multiple issues|
{{Original research|date=May 2008}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2014}}
}}
[[Image:whitewater.jpg|thumb|220px|right|Whitewater on the river [[Guil]] ([[French Alps]])]]
[[Image:Kannonkoski rapids.JPG|thumb|220px|right|Whitewater on the small rapid of [[Kannonkoski]], [[Central Finland]]]]
[[Image:Tornionjoki Kukkolankoski Vastarannalla Ruotsi.jpg|thumb|220px|right|Vivid water of the [[Torne (Finnish and Swedish river)|Torne River]] between Sweden and Finland.]]
[[File:Whitewater at Yosemite.jpg|alt=Whitewater at Yosemite|thumb|Whitewater at Yosemite]]
'''Whitewater''' forms in the context of [[rapids]], in particular, when a [[river]]'s [[Stream gradient|gradient]] changes enough to generate so much [[turbulence]] that air is trapped within the water. This forms an unstable current that [[foam|froths]], making the water appear opaque and white. <!-- The term is also loosely used to refer to less turbulent, but still agitated, flows.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}} -->

The term "whitewater" also has a broader meaning, applying to any river or creek that has a significant number of rapids. The term is also used as an adjective describing boating on such rivers, such as  [[whitewater canoeing]] or [[whitewater kayaking]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.westlakes.canoe.org.au/default.asp?Page=2204&MenuID=Tips/c13297/0 |title=Glossary of canoe terms |website=Westlakes.canoe.org.au |publisher=West Lakes Canoe Club |access-date=29 July 2014}}</ref>