Most of the world's major river deltas are sinking, increasing the flood risk faced by hundreds of millions of people, scientists report.Damming and diverting rivers means that much less sediment now reaches many delta areas, while extraction of gas and groundwater also lowers the land. Rivers affected include the Colorado, Nile, Pearl, Rhone and Yangtze.
Most of the world's major river deltas are sinking, increasing the flood risk faced by hundreds of millions of people, scientists report.
Damming and diverting rivers means that much less sediment now reaches many delta areas, while extraction of gas and groundwater also lowers the land.
Rivers affected include the Colorado, Nile, Pearl, Rhone and Yangtze.
As an economic, biological and cultural resource, water is of paramount importance to the delta. It is also an ongoing cause of friction between farmers, stock breeders, fishermen, salt producers, reed harvesters, managers of protected natural environments, hunters, bathers and, of course, local residents.
The site goes on to speak of the differing requirements and impacts of each population and how it is dealt with in that delta. Even with all those attempts at balance, a flood in 2005 scared the pants off of them. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
