What is the human impact on the Ganges river?
The River Ganges is more than 2,500km long and has the most populated river basin in the world. Hundreds of millions of people and a huge range of wildlife rely on the Ganges. But pollution, dams and removal of too much water (mostly for agriculture) have affected the flow and health of this vital river.
Why do people pollute the Ganges river?
The main causes of water pollution in the Ganga river are the disposal of human sewage and animal waste, increasing population density, and disposal of industrial waste into the river.
Why is London water so dirty?
Due to pollution, the amount of oxygen in the water fell so low that no life could survive and, in effect, fish either died or swam away. With no oxygen and continued spillage of untreated pollutants, the Thames started to stink and die. It was eventually declared dead in 1957 by the Natural History Museum.
Why is the Thames water so dirty?
Pollution on the River Thames. The River Thames is the cleanest river in the world that flows through a major city. This is a major feat considering that fifty years ago the river was so polluted that it was declared biologically dead. Sewage was being discharged directly into the Thames.
Is it safe to swim in the Thames?
It is not recommended to swim in the tidal section of the Thames (east of Putney Bridge to the North Sea). It is neither safe nor particularly nice. But as you head west the river gets cleaner, safer (less boat traffic) and more beautiful. All these 10 wild swimming locations are west of London and easily accessible.
How dirty is the Thames Water?
The River Thames has some of the highest recorded levels of microplastics for any river in the world. Scientists have estimated that 94,000 microplastics per second flow down the river in places. The quantity exceeds that measured in other European rivers, such as the Danube and Rhine.