Mongolia Plans River Diversion As Mining Boom Sucks Gobi Dry
October 14th, 2020
Via Third Pole, an article on Mongolian’ plans to address its water scarcity challenge via river diversion: In school geography textbooks around the world, Mongolia?s Gobi desert is cited as the main example of a cold desert. It occupies almost the entire southern region of the country, covering approximately 350,000 square kilometres. What is less […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: China’s New Silk Road Causing Regional Water Stress
June 23rd, 2016
Via Third Pole.net, a report on a recent decision by the Chinese to put temporary halt on a dam which could destroy the Siberian lake ecosystem, highlighting lack of environmental safeguards along the New Silk Road: Every Chinese person knows about one place in Siberia ?? Lake Baikal. It is not necessarily famous for its […]
Read more »Planned Mongolian Hydroelectric Plants Threaten Lake Baikal
February 19th, 2015
Via the Siberian Times, a report on the potential threat to Lake Baikal posed by Mongolian hydro plants: Levels at Baikal are about 40cm lower than in 2013. Lake Baikal is facing another environmental threat, this time from across the border with plans in Mongolia for a series of new hydroelectric power plants. Campaigners including […]
Read more »Is Ulaanbataar Running Out of Water?
May 20th, 2014
Via The Diplomat, a look at Mongolia’s water scarcity problems which are expected to emerge in 2015, and intensify from 2020 onwards: Once known for its abundant and immaculate waters, the Tuul River flowing through Mongolia?s capital Ulaanbataar is rapidly shrinking. The Tuul has historically swung from high-flow cycles to low-flow cycles, but it had […]
Read more »Mongolia’s Water Scarcity Could Threaten Its Economic Boom
March 6th, 2014
Courtesy of The Guardian, a report on how one resource-rich country is riding high economically but a battle is brewing for water between people, mining and agriculture: The Gobi desert. The Mongolian mining boom may promise great things for economy but chronic water stress is a cause for concern. The sight of foreign faces in […]
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