Arteries of the Earth

The world’s rivers are the arteries of our biosphere, pumping life-giving freshwater to birth global ecosystems. Over 2 billion people depend directly on rivers for drinking water; these rivers are the bedrock of global agriculture and provide homes for over 10% of all species on our planet.

In Iran, river tributaries feed the Maharlu lagoon, which transforms into a pink-hued lake thanks to seasonal blooms of salt-loving algae, offering a critical wetland refuge to migratory birds such as flamingos, ducks, cranes and pelicans.

However, a confluence of chemical, industrial pollution and weather extremes from the climate crisis is disrupting global river health. Over just 50 years (1970-2020), freshwater species populations have plummeted by 83% on average. Lack of access to safe drinking water contributes to over 1.4 million deaths a year, and more than half of the world’s largest lakes and reservoirs are drying up. Maharlu Lake, for example, has reduced in size and water levels have plummeted by over 90% during the dry season.

On this World Rivers Day, we invite you to consider the water bodies in the landscapes of your life. Are they healthy and thriving with life as they should be? How can we protect the lifelines of our natural world?

This award-winning photograph was shortlisted in the Planet Category of the COP28 Photography Competition, a collaboration between The Climate Tribe and the Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Rashid al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA). The Climate Tribe has partnered with HIPA to leverage the power of photography to inspire global awareness of sustainability and advance climate action.