How salt mining is poisoning a German river

A river in Germany has become increasingly salty because of potash mining. The result: disappearing wildlife and a damaged ecosystem.

ScienceGermany

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

ScienceGermanyhttps://p.dw.com/p/5HdIW

Why are coastal species turning up in a German river? In parts of the Werra, salt levels are more than 20 times higher than normal after decades of potash mining pollution. Many freshwater species have vanished, replaced by plants and animals that thrive in salty conditions. But further upstream, scientists have found around 70 species in clean water, offering a glimpse of what the river could become again. With the EU’s 2027 water quality deadline approaching, the battle to restore the Werra is far from over.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About the Author

Easy WordPress Websites Builder: Versatile Demos for Blogs, News, eCommerce and More – One-Click Import, No Coding! 1000+ Ready-made Templates for Stunning Newspaper, Magazine, Blog, and Publishing Websites.

BlockSpare — News, Magazine and Blog Addons for (Gutenberg) Block Editor

Search the Archives

Access over the years of investigative journalism and breaking reports