These 8 countries have NO river, only dry area and sea shore, they are Maldives, Oman, UAE and…., check full list here
Rivers are a source of freshwater, with them comes minerals and vitamins that enrich and nourish the soil around them, helping in agriculture as well as providing freshwater for household chores, but some countries just do not have any permanent, naturally flowing river!
Why? Because they are located in such regions that lack the geography to sustain a freshwater source.
Here are the names of the countries without a single river:
1. Saudi Arabia: An advanced country like Saudi Arabia having no river is a shock, its sheer size makes it the largest country, with no permanent river. Instead of rivers, the nation is dependent on underground aquifers and does complex processes like desalination of the water. Though, it has several riverbeds, which are known as Wadis.
2. Kuwait: Just like Arabia, Kuwait too has no permanent river. It has to depend on desalination and importing water from other countries. The rainfall in the region is very minimal, and there are no natural freshwater sources. The fresh water supply is managed by using advanced infrastructure and recycling water.
3. Qatar: Qatar falls on the same page, having no sources of river in the country. It is entirely dependent on desalination and ground water. The climate being arid and the terrain like a flat desert makes surface water scarce. Even after all that, the country’s water infrastructure is the most advanced in the region.
4. Vatican City: The smallest independent state in the world, with an area of only 49 sq km also has no rivers or natural water bodies. The water supply and infrastructure is provided by and heavily relied on Italy. Despite the small size of the Vatican, it has a very efficient and urban water system
5. Oman: Another country with no permanent rivers, but blessed with a lot of wadis, that flood during heavy rains. These dry channels are very crucial and play an important role in water flow and agriculture. The country uses traditional Falaj irrigation systems in order to manage its scarce water sources.
6. United Arab Emirates (UAE): The UAE, just like the others, has no permanent river system. Though, there are a few seasonal watercourses or wadis. It depends on desalination plants, and underground aquifers for water. The country also invests heavily in water sustainability and conservation technologies.
7. Maldives: The country of Maldives is made up of more than 1,000 small islands, yet there are no rivers or streams. It collects freshwater from rainfall, and stores it in tanks and aquifers. Rising sea levels pose threat to the already limited freshwater supplies.
8. Bahrain: This beautiful island nation in the Persian Gulf is surviving without any rivers or freshwater lakes. The country has always depended on its natural springs, though a lot of them have dried up as well. As of now, the country uses desalination to meet its freshwater needs.
The vast geography, climate, location and a lot of factors that cannot be controlled are the cause behind no permanent rivers in the above mentioned countries. It is impressive how humans have advanced so far that they can survive in places like these and even find modern solutions to such problems. Even if they do not have a river, they are thriving and advancing every day, all while managing the problem using modern day technology and creative solutions.
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