The Guardian writes about the recent woes of the Yangtze:
The waters of the Yangtze have fallen to their lowest levels since 1866, disrupting drinking supplies, stranding ships and posing a threat to some of the world’s most endangered species.
Asia’s longest river is losing volume as a result of a prolonged dry spell, the state media warned yesterday, predicting hefty economic losses and a possible plague of rats on nearby farmland.
News of the drought – which is likely to worsen pollution in the river – comes amid dire reports about the impact of rapid economic growth on China’s environment. [Full text]
See also “Ships grounded along Yangtze River” from the Foreign Policy blog; “Water level of Yangtze lowest for 140 years” from China Daily; and “China drought underlines hydropower reliance risks” from Reuters.
[Image: A river bed is exposed as water levels fall along the Yangtze river near Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province by AP, via The Guardian]
