Fact Finders ENDANGERED RIVERS INVESTIGATING RIVERS IN CRISIS by Rani lyer Content Consultant Thomas M Neeson PhD Postdoctoral Researcher Department of Limnology University of Wisconsin Madison CAPSTONE PRESS a capstone imprint
CHAPTER A World of Rivers Rivers streams and creeks flow on every continent on Earth Water rushes over rocks and down a waterfall Beavers build dams with tree branches A bird swoops down and grabs a fish with its bill Crayfish munch on algae All sorts of creatures live in or near rivers People depend on rivers for survival too In the United States 65 percent of drinking water comes from rivers and streams Rivers are an important part of Earth's landscape
As much as humans rely on rivers they have caused much harm to this resource Human actions have endangered rivers Several rivers are running dry Others are severely polluted Some fish species that once thrived are now nearly extinct Experts believe that the world will suffer a major water crisis if rivers are not cleaned up and protected endanger to put at risk pollute to make something dirty or unsafe species a group of plants or animals that share common characteristics extinct no longer living an extinct species is one that has died out with no more of its kind Rivers around the world are becoming littered with trash
