Yes, rivers and lakes are very important to a country. They provide water for drinking and farming, which is essential for life. They also support a lot of different plants and animals, making them important for biodiversity. Plus, they can be used for transportation and trade, which helps the economy. Many tourists visit rivers and lakes for activities like fishing and boating, which also boosts the economy. In some places, they have cultural or historical importance too.

Not necessarily. Some countries don't rely on rivers and lakes as much because they have other water sources like groundwater. With technology like desalination, countries can get fresh water from the sea, so they don't need rivers and lakes as much. Also, with urbanization, people don't use rivers and lakes directly as much as before. There are also other ways to transport goods, so waterways aren't as important. Plus, environmental concerns can limit how much we use rivers and lakes for economic activities.