The Mekong is one of the most polluted rivers in the world, transporting an estimated 40 thousand tonnes of plastic into the world’s oceans each year.
How did the Mekong river get polluted?
The pollution is due in part to the expansion of rice fields from 3.2 million hectares in 1995 to 3.9 million hectares this year and the increased use of fertilizers and pesticides. Another reason is pond expansion to grow pangasius (basa and tra).
Is it safe to swim in the Mekong River?
Despite concerns about competiting in the Mekong’s murky waters, organizers were keen to point out that while there is always a slight risk associated with swimming in rivers, the cloudy waters of the Mekong are a result of fine sediment floating in the water, rather than high levels of pollution.
Why is the Mekong River at Risk?
Two main risks include the obstruction of the estimated 600 migratory fish species that swim to their spawning ground and the trapping of sediment by dams upstream that prohibits the replenishment of the delta’s nutrients.
Is the Mekong River dying?
Drying up segments of the once fast-flowing river and leaving the region facing imminent drought. … According to the Mekong River Commission, a regional intergovernmental body that aims to jointly manage the river’s water resources.
What is the Mekong River famous for?
In total, more than 60 million people depend on the Mekong for most facets of their daily lives. The river supports one of the most diverse fisheries in the world and is known for hosting various species of large fish; the biggest include the giant river carp, freshwater stingray, Siamese giant carp, and giant catfish.
Can a river dry up?
So, rivers can dry up when there is drought. The is called the water cycle. Water evaporates from the oceans forming clouds in the atmosphere which blow over the land and precipitate , filling the rivers with water which flows downhill back to the ocean.