rightbank

Right bank is a geographic term used to describe the bank of a river that lies on the right-hand side when facing the downstream direction. The designation is relative; it depends on the direction of river flow and, in braided or multi‑channel rivers, is typically defined with respect to the main stream. The term can be applied to any river and is commonly used in maps, navigation, hydrology, and urban planning.

In practice, the right bank helps describe locations, properties, and infrastructure, and it often corresponds to historical, administrative, or economic divisions within a region. Many cities reference their right and left banks to distinguish neighborhoods, districts, or development zones that grew on opposite sides of the river. The distinction is especially prominent in European cities with long riverfront histories.

In Paris, France, for example, the terms Rive Droite (Right Bank) and Rive Gauche (Left Bank) denote the portions of the Seine that lie respectively on the north and south sides of the river as it flows through the city. The Right Bank has traditionally been associated with certain commercial and administrative areas, while the Left Bank has been linked to education and culture in some historical periods. Similar right/left bank distinctions appear in other countries and on navigation charts, though the specific areas designated by each bank vary with local geography.

Note that river courses can change over time, and confluences or braided sections may alter which land lies on the right or left when considering a particular reach. The right bank remains a practical convention rather than a fixed geopolitical boundary.