Ecological catastrophes in Russia. Environmental disasters: examples

Throughout the history of its existence, mankind has a detrimental impact on the environment. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the impact of people on nature has increased hundreds of times. Ecological catastrophes in Russia and all over the world, which occurred over the past decades, significantly exacerbated the already deplorable state of our planet.

Causes of environmental disasters

Almost all of the largest environmental disasters on our planet have occurred through the fault of man. Employees working in industrial enterprises with a high level of danger often neglect their duties. The slightest oversight or inattention of personnel can lead to irreversible consequences. Disregarding the rules of safety, workers of enterprises endanger not only their lives, but also the safety of the entire population of the country.

In the desire to save the government allows enterprises to use natural resources without thought, throw toxic waste into water bodies. The avarice of man makes us forget about the consequences for nature, to which his actions can lead.

In an effort to suppress panic among the population, the governments of countries often conceal from the people the true consequences brought about by environmental disasters. Examples of such disinformation of residents are the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the release of anthrax spores in Sverdlovsk. If the government took the necessary measures in time and informed the population of the contaminated areas of the incident, a huge number of victims could be avoided.

In rare cases, natural disasters can lead to environmental disasters. Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and tornadoes can provoke accidents at enterprises with hazardous production. Unfavorable weather conditions can lead to large-scale forest fires.

The most terrible catastrophe in the history of mankind

The biggest accident in the history of mankind , which had terrible consequences for the population of Russia, Ukraine and other countries of Eastern Europe, occurred on April 26, 1986 . On this day, due to the fault of the employees of the nuclear power plant of the city of Chernobyl, there was a powerful explosion in the power unit.

As a result of the accident, a huge dose of radiation was emitted into the atmosphere. Within a radius of 30 kilometers from the epicenter of the explosion, people will not be able to live for many years, and radioactive clouds scattered all over the world. Rains and snow, containing radioactive particles, passed in various parts of the world, causing irreparable harm to all living beings. The consequences of this major catastrophe will have an impact on nature for more than one century.

Catastrophe with the Aral Sea

The Soviet Union for many years carefully concealed the constantly deteriorating state of the Aral Sea-Lake. Once it was the fourth largest lake in the world with a wide variety of underwater inhabitants, rich in fauna and flora along its banks. Taking water from the rivers feeding the Aral, for irrigation of agricultural plantations, led to the fact that the lake began to melt very quickly.

For several decades the water level in the Aral Sea has decreased more than 9 times, while salinity has increased almost 7-fold. All this led to the extinction of freshwater fish and other inhabitants of the lake. The dried-up bottom of the once-magnificent pond turned into a lifeless desert.

In addition to all this, pesticides and agricultural pesticides that fell into the waters of the Aral Sea were deposited on the dried-up bottom. They are carried by winds over a huge area around the Aral Sea, resulting in deterioration of the state of flora and fauna, and the local population suffers from various diseases.

The drying out of the Aral Sea has led to irreversible consequences, both for nature and for man. The governments of the countries of the former Soviet Union, in whose territory the lake is now located, do not take any measures to improve the current situation. The unique natural complex is no longer subject to restoration.

Other environmental disasters in Russia, included in the history

On the territory of Russia during the last decades, there have been other, historical ecological catastrophes. Examples of such are Usinsk and Lovina catastrophes.

In 1994, Russia experienced the world's largest oil spill on land. In the Pechora forests as a result of the breakthrough of the pipeline, more than one hundred thousand tons of oil poured out. All flora and fauna in the breakthrough territory was destroyed. The consequences of the accident, despite the restoration work carried out, will continue to make themselves felt for a long time.

Another breakthrough in the oil pipeline in Russia occurred in 2003 near Khanty-Mansiysk. More than 100 thousand tons of oil poured into the river Mulimia, covering it with oily film. Flora and fauna of the river and its environs underwent mass extinction.

Recent environmental disasters in Russia

The largest environmental catastrophes in Russia over the past decade are the accident at the Novocheboksarsk enterprise of JSC Khimprom, which resulted in the release of chlorine into the atmosphere, and the breakdown of the Druzhba oil pipeline in the Bryansk region. Both tragedies occurred in 2006. As a result of disasters, residents of nearby areas, as well as plants and animals, suffered.

Forest fires, blazing all over Russia in 2005, can also be attributed to environmental disasters. The fire destroyed hundreds of hectares of forest, and residents of large cities were suffocated by smog.

How to prevent environmental disasters

In order to prevent new environmental disasters in Russia, it is necessary to take a number of emergency measures. They should be directed, first of all, to improving the safety practices and increasing the responsibility of employees working in hazardous industrial enterprises. The responsibility for this, first of all, should be assumed by the Ministry of Ecology of the country.

After the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station, an article appeared in Russian legislation prohibiting people from hiding the scale and consequences of environmental disasters. People have the right to know about the ecological situation in their area of residence.

Before mastering new industries and territories, people need to think through all the consequences for nature and evaluate the rationality of their actions.