Geography
Answer
Water bodies are fast degenerating, primarily due to human activities. Some of which are enumerated below:
- Household wastes — Domestic waste water is mixed with other wastes such as plastic, detergent, animal dung and human excreta and is together known as municipal waste. This pollutes water bodies.
- Industrial wastes — Factories produce toxic wastes which when discharged into water bodies, pollute the water and cause irreparable harm to aquatic creatures.
- Agricultural wastes — Agricultural wastes mostly consist of fertilisers and pesticides. They may be carried off from the farms to the rivers and lakes as surface runoff during rains or floods. They pollute the aquatic ecosystem by promoting rapid growth of algae and subsequent depletion of oxygen in water.
- Oil spills — Crude oil is transported across oceans in tankers. Accidents and leakages often cause oil spills that damage the marine ecosystems. Offshore drilling operations also contribute to oil spill.
Related Questions
Mention two characteristics of a river in its lower course.
Give two reasons why rivers are valuable to the farmers.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
Rising from the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas, river Ganga is the lifeline of the northern part of India. Its plains provide food to millions of Indians. The rich fertile plains grow diverse crops and support high density of population. Being a glacier-fed river, it carries water throughout the year and hence provides irrigation, navigation and also helps in the generation of hydroelectric power. On the banks of this sacred river, many pilgrimage cities such as Haridwar, Rishikesh, Allahabad (now Prayagraj) and Varanasi have grown. The combined drainage system of the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra forms the vast Northern Plains of the Indian subcontinent that is one of the most populous regions of the world.
- How does the Ganga Plain grow food for millions of Indians?
- Why does the river carry water throughout the year?
- Besides farming, which are the other two benefits of this river to the people of India?
Why is a water crisis in the world even though most parts of the Earth is covered with water?