All articles tagged with #amazon river
Originally Published 2 months ago — by BBC
Photographer Thomas Peschak captured rare underwater images of Amazonian pink dolphins stealing fish from fishermen's nets, highlighting their clever behavior and the threats they face from fishing, pollution, and climate change. The dolphins are both revered and feared, with conservation efforts involving local communities to protect these endangered creatures and promote coexistence.
Originally Published 4 months ago — by NPR
The town of Leticia in Colombia, the only access point to the Amazon River for the country, faces the threat of becoming landlocked due to the river's changing course caused by drought and sedimentation, which is fueling a border dispute with Peru over the island of Santa Rosa. The shifting river and unresolved territorial claims highlight ongoing tensions and the challenges of border management in the region.
Originally Published 5 months ago — by The New York Times
Colombia and Peru are engaged in a diplomatic and rhetorical dispute over the ownership of Santa Rosa de Yavarí, a small island in the Amazon River, with both nations asserting sovereignty amid historical and geographical claims, while tensions escalate with military and political posturing.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Newser
Peru has lost over half of its glacier surface in the past 58 years, with 175 glaciers becoming extinct between 2016 and 2020 due to climate change. The increase in average global temperature has accelerated the retreat of glaciers, particularly in tropical areas. Peru now has 44% of the glacial coverage recorded in 1962, with only 405 square miles remaining. The disappearance of glaciers poses risks to lowland areas, as demonstrated by the devastating mud avalanche in 1970 that killed over 20,000 people in Yungay after a glacier broke off following an earthquake.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Deseret News
The record-low levels of the Amazon River caused by a severe drought in Brazil have uncovered ancient carvings estimated to be between 1,000 and 2,000 years old. The carvings, mostly depicting human faces, animals, and natural forms, provide insight into pre-colonial civilizations. The site is considered of high importance by archaeologists due to its diversity, including deep indentations used for weapon sharpening. The drought, attributed to the El Niño weather pattern and climate change, has also caused a state of emergency in Manaus, affecting over 600,000 people and impacting the surrounding rainforest's vegetation and wildlife.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Reuters Canada
Ancient rock carvings, believed to be 1,000 to 2,000 years old, have been exposed along the Amazon River due to record low water levels caused by a severe drought. The carvings, including human faces and grooves thought to be used for sharpening weapons, were first discovered in 2010 but have become more visible this year. Archaeologists hope that the newfound variety of carvings will provide insights into their origins and the precolonial history of the region.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Al Jazeera English
The deaths of 120 Amazon river dolphins in Brazil's Tefe Lake are believed to be linked to severe drought and high temperatures, with water temperatures exceeding 39C (102F). The pink dolphins, a threatened species, are particularly vulnerable due to slow reproductive cycles. The deaths could represent 10% of their estimated population in the lake, posing a threat to their survival. Scientists are working to determine the exact cause of the mortality, but environmental activists attribute the unusually hot conditions to climate change. The drought has also impacted riverside communities, leaving them isolated and without access to water and transportation.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Reuters.com
The carcasses of 120 river dolphins, including the endangered pink dolphins, have been found floating in a tributary of the Amazon River, with experts suspecting that severe drought and heat are to blame. Low river levels during the drought have heated the water to intolerable temperatures for the dolphins, while a lack of oxygen has also caused the death of thousands of fish in the region. The slow reproductive cycles of the Amazon river dolphins make their populations particularly vulnerable to such threats. Environmental activists have attributed the unusual conditions to climate change, although the exact role of global warming in the current Amazon drought remains unclear. Efforts are underway to determine the cause of death and rescue any surviving dolphins.