{"id":15115,"date":"2024-01-31T20:55:17","date_gmt":"2024-01-31T19:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=15115"},"modified":"2024-01-31T20:55:17","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T19:55:17","slug":"why-is-the-yangtze-river-red","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/why-is-the-yangtze-river-red\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is The Yangtze River Red"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Yangtze River has long been known for its rich variety of life, an asset to the careers, traditions, and cultures of the area for generations. Yet, a recent phenomenon has recently stunned visitors and locals alike: an unaccustomed colour in its waters. Nowadays when viewing the Yangtze, a distinctive hue of red catches the eye. But what is the cause of this remarkable sight? <\/p>\n

The Yangtze is actually not the only river of its kind to turn a mysterious shade of red. In 2019, another river in Inner Mongolia, the Suxian river, reported the same phenomenon. Local fishermen then quickly examined the water, discovering that it was turning red right before their eyes. A launch investigation in both cases eventually uncovered the same culprit: algal red tide. <\/p>\n

Algal Red Tide occurs when an algal bloom is caused by an excessive concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus in water. These pollutants are usually caused by human activities, such as industrial waste and fertilizer, and can act as fertilizer for the algal population. Algal blooms usually turn the color of the water a deep red, resulting in a spectacular, yet troubling sight. <\/p>\n

These algal blooms often cause a massive decline in the number of oxygen-rich waters. The lack of oxygen then results in the death of fish and other animals, such as marine mammals, and can even decimate entire ecosystems. In the case of the Yangtze river, this phenomenon has greatly disturbed the natural balance in the river’s environment. <\/p>\n