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Characteristics of river
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Rivers are the arteries of the planet, delivering most of the fresh surface water people use. An estimated 263 international river basins cover about 50 % of the Earth’s surface, yet by volume they carry about 2,120 km3, or about 6/1,000 of one % of total water (Table 1). Approximately 40 % of the world’s population live in river basins that comprise two or more countries. According to the United Nations, 145 countries have territory within international basins. While most basins are shared between just two countries, there are many basins where this number is much higher. There are 13 basins worldwide that are shared between 5 and 8 riparian nations. Five basins—the Congo, Niger, Nile, Rhine and Zambezi—are shared between 9 and 11 countries. The river that flows through the most nations is the Danube, which travels within the territory of 18 nations (United Nations, 2014).
At least thirty-three countries depend on other countries for over 50 % of their renewable water resources. These countries include: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Cambodia,...
With today’s drought situations, it is more important than ever to be aware of the water sources in Wyoming as well as the various uses of the water and the amount of usable water that is available compared to the amount that must be used. This paper will not only inform about those uses and numbers, but also the highly debated HB 19 bill and the four major river basins in the western part of the country that supply Wyoming with it’s water. We will be talking about where and how Wyoming gets most of its surface water every year. Along with surface water, groundwater is also an important supply of water to the area which we count on for the environment, and it is important to try to conserve as much of this moisture as we can.
The Colorado River is the principal water source in the US Southwest. Spanning 246,000 square miles and providing water to over 30 million people, it is clear to see the importance of maintaining and preserving the Colorado River’s water. In 1923, the Colorado River Compact was signed by six of the seven basin states. The Upper Basin states include portions of Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and northern Arizona. The Lower Basin covers parts of Nevada, Arizona, California, southwestern Utah, and western New Mexico. The Colorado River also supplies water to parts of the states of Baja California and Sonora in northwestern Mexico. The Colorado River is considered an exotic stream because it flows mainly through arid lands despite its headwaters being located in a region of water surpluses.
The Ohio River Basin covers the area about 203.940 miles, which is located in northeast of the United States surrounding the easternmost regions of the Mississippi Basin. The mainstream of the basin, the Ohio River itself, winds its way through 6 states or commonwealths around: Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. The basin consists of one mainstream, which serves as the largest tributary of the Mississippi river, and its various tributaries, among which the Allegany and Monongahela tributaries serves as the source water of the Ohio river mainstream, where the Ohio River begins at the confluence of these two tributaries. The Ohio River basin cover across 15 states that supports beyond 27 million people, equaling to 10% of the population in the United States, with drinking water, jobs and various kinds of recreational opportunities. [2]
Today, water usage is very high. One of the main reasons has been due to an increase in population. Human population is today on the rise. According to the CIA (2015), the birth rate of the human population stands at 1.86%. In the last 100 years, there has been tremendous growth in human population due to advances in medical technology as well as improvement in agriculture. This has led to an increase in water use over the years. In addition, the increase in industries over this period has also led to an increase in water use. Today, there are numerous industries that have come up, each requiring huge amounts of water to run smoothly. The increase in water usage today is partially responsible for the global water crisis. The huge demand for water means that there is less water available for each person and each industry.
Many differing opinions exist on what needs to be done about our current status of conserving energy and conserving our environment. With increased gas prices and energy costs, consumers are more aware of what benefits are available and the methods of obtaining them. The introduction of hydropower has been a major step for some, while a stumbling back for others. Advocates for hydropower have provided much information about the many benefits that we reap from using hydroelectric dams. Environmental activists denounce the many negatives that are created by the numerous dams located throughout the United States as well as other countries. Both sides present valid arguments and need to be addressed in order to fully understand the complex social, biological, political, and economic pros and cons.
In our generation of new technologies and high civilization it is hard to believe that our World is in Water crisis. This crisis is affecting not only low-developed parts of the world but also it affects high-developed countries, about one third of the humanity suffers from the scarcity of water (Molden 2010). One of the main causes of it is overpopulation. In increasing water demand water sources which we have now are not able to renew themselves. Another factor of water scarcity is not economized water consumption. Nowadays most of countries are beginning to realize that solving the problem of scarcity of water is very crucial. One of them is Mexico where water shortage is the national problem.
Of this large area, 2,267,048 square kilometers consists of land while 77,810 square kilometers is covered by water. It shares its long border with many other African states including Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. (CIA World Factbook) The unique topography is characterized the Congo region’s large central basin surrounding by an array of low-lying plateaus, mountains, and volcanoes. The Congo River is the area’s largest traveling water body with many other subsidiary rivers crossing the territory. The land’s vast tropical rainforest occupies over half of the state’s total area. (Southern African Development Community) The Democratic Republic of the Congo preserves areas of its lush territory through national parks such as Garamba, Kahuzi-Biéga, Salonga, Virunga, and the Okapi Faunal Reserve. The mountainous eastern border of the state known as the Great Riff Valley experiences frequent earthquakes and is home to several active volcanoes. The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Pic
Rivers are a natural water source for civilizations, which water is essential for a civilization to sustain.
Water shortage in United States is a potential problem. Today almost no one consider how serious the issue is. Water is the main resource of our living; we have it and do not realize how much water we waste. In U.S.A. there are over usage of water in irrigation, agriculture, industry and over usage in residential purposes. According to CBS News report (Strassmann, 2010), average American uses about 150 gallons every day, while Englishmen use 40 gallons, Chinese – 22 and Kenyan - 13 gallons. Strassmann also points out that scientists count, that consumption of water is much more than supply, so that in next three years 36 states will faced the problem of water shortage. Nowadays, Las Vegas, Texas, California, Colorado, Nevada have already run into troubles.
United Nations Environment Programme. Environment, Sustainable Development and the Nile River Basin. N.p.: United Nations Environment Programme, n.d. Case Study 1. United Nations Environmental Programme. Web. 3 May 2014.
Water Issues in South Asia If there is any single most important issue that mars bilateral relations among the countries of the subcontinent, it is water. The issues of cross-border water distribution, utilisation, management and mega irrigation/hydro-electric power projects affecting the upper and lower riparian countries are gradually taking centre-stage in defining interstate relations as water scarcity increases and both drought and floods make life too often miserable. Thanks to its location, size and contiguous borders with other South Asian countries, it is India, in its capacity as both upper and lower riparian, that has come into conflict with most of its neighbours, except Bhutan, on the cross-border water issues. Given an atmosphere of mistrust, an upper riparian India has serious issues to resolve with lower riparian Pakistan and Bangladesh and, despite being lower riparian, with the upper riparian Nepal.
There is a global shortage of drinking water. A person might wonder how this can be if seventy percent of the earth’s surface is covered by water. Most of the Earth’s water is unsuitable for human consuption. Ocean water is salt water, which makes up 97.5% of all water on the planet. Freshwater is only 3.5% of all the water on Earth. Drinking water is sourced from bodies of freshwater.
One main causes of water scarcity is water mismanagement worldwide. Water mismanagement has become a crisis of governance that will impact heavily ...
Freshwater in the world makes up only a small portion of water on the planet. While the percentage of water in the world is nearly 70%, only 2.5% is consumable. Even further, only <1% is easily accessible to basic human needs. According to National Geographic, “by 2025, an estimated 1.8 billion people will live in areas plagued by water scarcity, with two-thirds of the world's population living in water-stressed regions as a result of use, growth, and climate change.” With this current trend, water will become more immersed in environmental, economic, political, and social changes. Many of these in later years shall need to be addressed as tension rises:
Cherain, T., Unni, K., and Sophie, L. 2010. China – India water shortage. Bloomberg News. http://www.grailresearch.com/pdf/ContenPodsPdf/Water-The_India_Story.pdf (accessed November 1, 2010).