diff --git a/modules/load.js b/modules/load.js
index 323f3496..4d5f14df 100644
--- a/modules/load.js
+++ b/modules/load.js
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ function parseLoadedData(data) {
     void (function parseSettings() {
       const settings = data[1].split("|");
       if (settings[0]) applyOption(distanceUnitInput, settings[0]);
-      if (settings[1]) distanceScaleInput.value = distanceScaleOutput.value = settings[1];
+      if (settings[1]) distanceScale = distanceScaleInput.value = distanceScaleOutput.value = settings[1];
       if (settings[2]) areaUnit.value = settings[2];
       if (settings[3]) applyOption(heightUnit, settings[3]);
       if (settings[4]) heightExponentInput.value = heightExponentOutput.value = settings[4];
diff --git a/modules/river-generator.js b/modules/river-generator.js
index 6e2ff7ef..595d49b0 100644
--- a/modules/river-generator.js
+++ b/modules/river-generator.js
@@ -31,9 +31,10 @@ window.Rivers = (function () {
     TIME && console.timeEnd("generateRivers");
 
     function drainWater() {
+      const sqrpixel = distanceScale * distanceScale
       const MIN_FLUX_TO_FORM_RIVER = 10 * distanceScale;
       const prec = grid.cells.prec;
-      const area = c => pack.cells.area[c] * distanceScale * distanceScale;
+      const area = c => pack.cells.area[c] * sqrpixel;
       const land = cells.i.filter(i => h[i] >= 20).sort((a, b) => h[b] - h[a]);
       const lakeOutCells = Lakes.setClimateData(h);
 
diff --git a/modules/submap.js b/modules/submap.js
index 20bd9d23..403ca275 100644
--- a/modules/submap.js
+++ b/modules/submap.js
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ window.Submap = (function () {
       // raise every land cell a bit except riverbeds
       grid.cells.h.forEach((h, i) => {
         if (!rbeds[i] || grid.cells.t[i]<1) return;
-        grid.cells.h[i] = Math.min(grid.cells.h[i] * 1.1, 255);
+        grid.cells.h[i] = Math.min(grid.cells.h[i]+2, 100);
       });
     }