Bodies of Water
About
Bodies of Water is any Water physically found out in the environment of the New World. If you are looking for info about Water used in crafting recipes and Gardening see Potable Water.
Depth
Two Water Depths exist in the New World - The Shallows and The Deep, and while Tiles exist of just one Depth the two are often inter-mixed. Both The Shallows and The Deep can be found in all different Bodies of Water. A pilgrim can Fishing in either The Shallows or The Deep.
The Shallows
The Shallows are denoted by a light blue color on both the mini map and in the world. The Shallows can be crossed by foot or by Steed, such as a Giant Cricket, but vehicles such as Carts, Frontier Sleds, and Sturdy Sleds cannot be pulled across. Hitting either The Shallows or The Deep with one of these vehicles will cause you to instantly stop pulling.
The Shallows cannot normally be built on, however a Mysterious Lillypad can be put onto of The Shallows to allow Structures to be placed on top of it. Each Mysterious Lillypad covers one square so often many are needed.
Both Tokens and Milkweed Jute can be cleaned in The Shallows. Select the Rusty Coin or Charred Milkweed Fibre you want Cleaned from your inventory and right-click on The Shallows Potable Water can also be obtained from The Shallows by selecting a Vessel, most commonly a Bucket, from your inventory and right-clicking on any Body of Water. Additionally, used in Paper Making, a Ball of Rags can be Soaked to get a Soggy Rag Ball by selecting the Ball of Rags you want Soaked and right-clicking it on The Shallows. (Remember, when getting Potable Water, Cleaning, or Soaking, do not left-click your item over water when otherwise you will lose it!)
Creatures
Beavers, Crabs, Frogs, and Oysters are found regularly in The Shallows. Wishpooshes may be found in The Shallows of The Darkness.
Timber Rattlers refuse to slither into The Shallows so stepping into them yourself is a good way to avoid getting bit if you are not prepared to fight. While other Creatures are not as shy about fighting in The Shallows Creatures which when killed yield a single item, such as Dead Rabbit, Dead Silk Runner, and Dead Warbite Crickets will sink and disappear if killed in The Shallows. Startling a Crow that is sitting in The Shallows will cause its Crow Feather to sink and be lost as well.
Foragables
The Deep
The Deep is denoted by a dark blue color on both the mini map and in the world. There are no Forageables found in The Deep, but a Shellfish Trap can be placed in The Deep to catch Shellfish. The Deep cannot be crossed by foot and must be crossed by Swimming, or with a Watercraft.
Watercraft:
Creatures
Most Creatures cannot Swim so combat can be disengaged from in a pinch by Swimming into The Deep, however it is important to keep an eye on your Phlegm levels when doing so.
Notably, both Wishpooshes and Sperm Whales can Swim. Additionally Furfurs can fly over Water. Sperm Whales are only found in The Deep of the Ocean. Wishpooshes and Furfurs are only found in The Darkness.
Salinity
Fish:
Shellfish:
Freshwater Only Salt Water Only Both Crawdad Ill-Tempered Lobster Crab Mermaid's Purse Oyster
Freshwater
Composed of any combination of The Shallows and The Deep several differing Freshwater Bodies of Water can be found in the New World.
Lakes/Ponds
Generally Lakes and Ponds are Bodies of Water where a length of The Shallows encompasses an expanse of The Deep. Both Lakes and Ponds are typically wider than Rivers or Streams. While not an important distinction to be a true Lake in the New World the Tiles which make it up must include at least one full Tile of The Deep. Although Ponds are not on the Salem Dev Map; seen when opening a Named New World Survey Lakes typically are.
Rivers
Rivers are long and generally narrow strips of Water. While much less wide on average than Lakes and Ponds they are much longer. Due to their length Rivers are ideal for travelers with access to Watercraft, such as a Canoe. Additionally the Terrain on the sides Rivers is generally flat, making them great to follow along side of when trying to pull a vehicles such as a Sturdy Sled through areas with changing height. When looking for a place to cross a River by foot, look for Game Trails - where an Game Trail crosses a River it will be Shallow. Rivers are not included on the Salem Dev Map.
Waterfall
A Waterfall is created when a River goes over a dramatic height change in the landscape. While not affecting gameplay much Waterfalls can be particularly useful using a Canoe to transverse vertical Terrain such as a Mountain or a Hill.
Salt Water
The Ocean is the only Salt Water in the New World. While it is possible to explore by Watercraft it forms the New World's Easternmost boundary. It is visible from Providence. There is only a small length of The Shallows on The Ocean's Western boundary, where it abuts the land, and then it's just The Deep. Sperm Whales are only found here, and due to it's position far from The Darkness, Wishpooshes are not found here.
Related Terrain Types
Some Lakes and Ponds will have Beaches between The Body of Water and the land.
Rivers often culminate in a Swamp. Swamps are often filled small pools of Standing Water which cannot be used for Potable Water but can be walked over and vehicles such as Sturdy Sleds can be dragged over it.