Alaskan rivers turning orange due to climate change

Climate change is causing Alaska’s rivers to turn orange, posing serious risks to the state's ecosystems and rural communities.

Anumita Kaur reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

• Melting permafrost is releasing sulfide minerals into rivers, causing a chemical reaction that turns the water orange.
• These changes threaten aquatic health and could impact rural communities dependent on subsistence fishing.
• Researchers identified 75 affected rivers, noting high metal content and acidity in the water.

Key quote:

“It’s really disturbing to see this kind of rapid change associated with climate change. It’s a call to action for the entire state.”

— Tim Bristol, executive director of Salmon State

Why this matters:

The phenomenon highlights the broader impacts of climate change on vital natural resources. This could disrupt the livelihoods of rural Alaskan communities and the state's significant fishing industry, heightening the urgency for climate action.

Related: The planet is losing free-flowing rivers. This is a problem.