Fears grow as residents at mouth of Amazon River face troublesome phenomenon: 'Nature is revolting'

[Judi Lynn]

"I've been reading nature since I was a child, but I am no longer able to decipher it."

By Tina Deines
March 14, 2024



Rising sea levels, coupled with other man-made actions, are wreaking havoc on the islands of Brazil's Bailique Archipelago, Mongabay reported.

What's happening?

The Bailique Archipelago sits at the crossroads of the Amazon River and the Atlantic Ocean, and saltwater intrusion — when salty seawater pushes upstream into freshwater — is a natural phenomenon. However, rising sea levels and human actions like damming are causing water cycle changes, and brackish water is overtaking the river and inundating communities for longer periods.

Why are these changes concerning?

More frequent saltwater intrusion is making it harder for residents to gather potable water for their drinking and cooking needs, and many have turned to catching rainwater.

It's also making the archipelago's main economic crop, açaí berries, salty in flavor. Meanwhile, erosion caused by changes to the Amazon's flow is destroying palm trees.

While thousands of people have already fled the region, others, like boat pilot Aurélio Marques, struggle to adapt, according to Mongabay.
"It seems that nature is revolting, angry with us," Marques told the publication. "I've been reading nature since I was a child, but I am no longer able to decipher it."

More;
https://www.thecooldown.com/outdoors/bailique-archipelago-saltwater-intrusion-brazil/