Doucusa River

The Doucusa River is a river in Carasala that runs from headwaters in the antarctic region south of Lasucsala, westward along a long, slow course across the continent, and then north to the Faslula Sea at Doucusamael. At over 5500 rides in length, it is the longest river on Opelyx and has several slow flowing sections that are navigable by boat. The river is 5 rides wide near its mouth and is not traversed by bridges for lower 2200 rides of its course. The river gives its name to both the city of Doucusamael (lit. Docusa mouth) and the former Noulaenic procince of Docusada.

Etymology
The name derives from the Western Rigini dialect of the Flei people, deriving from choukue (long) and sthoo (river). The name has been Noulaenicized.

Geography
The Doucusa River follows a long course but loses little altitude along most of this course. The headwaters are fed by Antarctic ice and the exact source of the river is challenging to pinpoint. The waters converge into a river of considerable size in Lasucsala, where a number of glacially and spring fed smaller rivers converge. Traditionally, none of these smaller rivers bear the name Doucusa and the source is considered to be Lake Siaolas, a small lake that several smaller sources flow into. Lake Siaolas has an elevation of only 1530 paces but the river flows over 5500 rides to the sea from there.

The Doucusa course through the Lasucsala Basin is slow and winding and easily traveled by boat. The river then passes through a section of rapids, losing 590 paces of elevation over 15 rides, as it descends into the Ousilia Valley. Its course is relatively straight and nearly due west through this valley. It continues to widen as tributaries flow from the north and south into the river. The last bridge over the river is the 1.2 ride wide Bincaraelmaec bridge in Bincaraelaen. The river is used extensively as a transit artery through this region.

At the west end of the valley the river passes through another swift moving section, losing 220 paces of elevation in 10 rides. This section is smooth enough for travel but fast enough that boats can only travel downstream. Barges in this region are used to carry goods, mostly food, down from the valley. The barges are returned by road on horse drawn carts.

The river turns north-north-east towards the sea after this section. The final stretch of the river loses only 6 paces of elevation over 330 rides and is nearly flat. The river ranges from 4 to 5 rides wide through this section. The river forks into two sections over its silt plane and the larger fork meets the sea near the city of Doucusamael.