Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. ~ Norman Maclean
The river is often used by writers as a powerful metaphor. A river is life and movement, certain in its destination, and always flowing with vibrant energy. But what if this life giving water is polluted, or diverted, or reduced to a trickle?
The latest special issue of National Geographic is entitled Water: Our Thirsty World. (Yes, I still get a delightful hard copy of the magazine with a lot of glossy paper. Is that environmentally friendly?) It provides an interesting perspective on the limited fresh water available to us.
"We live on a planet covered by water, but more than 97% of our water is salty, and nearly 2% is locked up in snow and ice. That leaves 1% to grow our crops, cool our power plants, and supply drinking and bathing water."
The large fold out map is entitled the 'World of Rivers: a new mapping of every river system.' It provides a detailed look at the watersheds of the world with lots of interesting information such as the world's longest rivers and the sustenance they provide for billions of people.
The editor Chris Johns writes, "By 2025, 1.8 billion people will live where water is scarce."
How do you view the rivers and streams near where you live?
Photo from NGM.
