The Ob River report, by Megan Bijl
Characteristics
- The Ob River flows through China, Kazakhstan and Siberia.
- River basin exists mostly of steppe, taiga, swamps, tundra and semi-desert
- The Ob River contains more than 50 different kinds of fish
Usage of the river basin
- irrigation
- gain of drinking water
- gain of energy
- fishery
Ecological problems
China has made plans to construct an irrigation channel out of the Irtysh to their industrial areas. Hereby, great amounts of water will be withdrawn.
This means a disaster for as well Kazakhstan as Russia. Not only socially, but also ecologically.
- Lots of fish- and other animal- and plant-species will die
- Fishermen shall be very disadvantaged
- The irrigation for the agriculture shall be less and the harvest will be unsuccessful
- The amounts of clean drinking water shall be less
- The industry shall be forced to stop the water uptake.
A way for Kazakhstan to talk to China is to get help from the surrounding countries. In the Soviet-period this was a great factor to stop China's plans.
Abstract
The Ob is the biggest river in Russia. It transports water from China, through Kazakhstan and Russia to the Arctic Ocean. Concerned the discharge, the Ob is the third biggest river of Siberia (the others are the Yenisey and the Lena). The Ob’s biggest discharge of water flows through Kazakhstan and China and is the most important tributary of the Ob; the Black Irtysh. At this route, the rivers are very important sources of fresh and clean water.
The River Basin of the Ob River (Source: www.britannica.com)
The river basin of the Ob exists mostly of steppe, taiga, swamps, tundra and semi-desert. The floodplains of the Ob are characterised by many tributaries and lakes. These are like the river frozen for most of the time of the year. The landscape exists mostly of wide pasturelands, swamps and forest areas. In those forest areas appear pine-trees and motley wearing mammals. There are more than 50 different kinds of fish in the Ob and most of them are very valuable for the fishermen.
There are lots of oil- and gasfields in the tundra and taiga areas. They are very important for the economy and deliver two-third of the total national oil- and gasoutput. The most important function of the water of the Ob is drinking water and energy gain. The industry and fishery also needs the water for production; just like the agriculture needs the water for irrigation.
Because the Irtysh flows first through China, it is important that China manages the water well, so other countries (like Kazakhstan and Russia) can benefit by the clean water as well. But that is not the case. China has made plans to construct an irrigation channel out of the Irtysh to their industrial areas. Hereby great amounts of water will be withdrawn. And this is not the only plan. China wants to withdraw water from 30 other rivers that flow through Kazakhstan and Russia. This means a disaster for as well Kazakhstan as Russia. Not only socially but also ecologically.
This bad water policy shall lead to death of lots of fish- and other animal- and plantspecies. Especially the fishermen shall be very disadvantaged. By shortage of water the irrigation for the agriculture shall be less and the harvest will be unsuccessful. There shall be no fish and vegetables to sell and in the worst cases the people who live at the river shall have less food. Another problem is the amounts of clean drinking water. The industry needs also water and because of the shortage of water be forced to stop the intake of water.
Kazakhstan tries to negotiate with China about this problem, but China tries to prolong the negotiations. Russia is being held left. Results of the conversations between Kazakhstan and China are being held secret.
A way for Kazakhstan to talk China down is to get help for the surrounding countries. In the Soviet-period this was a great factor to stop China’s plans.
Early or late, these ex-soviet countries will get trouble because of the withdraws of China, than a negotiation with all of them will be needed.
A few interesting links:
http://www.rivernet.org/ob/irtysh.htm
http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/cenasia/hypermail/200006/0030.html
http://www.ciesin.org/docs/006-238/006-238.html
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