Water News
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Blog: U.S. Great Plains, Southwest at Extreme Risk of Running Dry
More than one-third of all counties in the U.S. Lower 48 states face higher risks of water shortages by mid-century as the result of global warming, according to a report by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
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Prozac Runoff Making Shrimp Reckless
Shrimp in Prozac-laced coastal waters swim into bright areas, making them more visible to predators, a new study says.
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Blog: Etheridge Teams Up With Cousteau for Water
NGS Emerging Explorer Alexandra Cousteau was the opening act at the Melissa Etheridge concert in NYC. During the show, Etheridge announced her support of Cousteau's latest expedition—a five-month tour across North America to document stories about freshwater.
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Blog: Cousteau's Granddaughter Gives Water a Voice
Alexandra Cousteau's Blue Planet Expedition tour will take her from D.C. to L.A., the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Colorado River Delta. The expedition aims to document freshwater stories—from the water recycling efforts at Target Field in Minneapolis to the plight of fishermen and ecosystems in Louisiana.
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PHOTOS: Amid Drought, Pakistan Prays for Rain
Sparse rainfall, surging demand, and inefficient infrastructure have combined to create devastating drought conditions across much of Pakistan.
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Glittery Marketing Boosts Hand-Washing Efforts
Where soap and water are scarce, public health officials are promoting hand washing by using glitter to demonstrate the spread of disease, and linking the practice to good motherhood.
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Diver "Vanishes" in Maya Underworld
An explorer "disappears" into the floor of a pool sacred to the ancient Maya, and divers find the first known fossils in Belize. Video.
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Alaska Town to Export Water?
A company sees a market to wet whistles in the Middle East, while an Alaskan town envisions a new revenue stream.
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Divert the Mississippi to Fight Oil?
The river's current could act as a barrier against the oil, buying time for cleanup crews in hard-hit Louisiana, scientists say.
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Pictures: Arkansas Flood Aftermath
Flood-tossed RVs and mangled campsites were left behind after a flash flood ripped through a national forest in Arkansas last weekend, killing at least 20.
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Blog: Bottled and Sold Explores America's Expensive Obsession with Bottled Water
Peter Gleick, one of the most visible and respected advocates for smart water use, has made a well-researched and timely first foray into popular nonfiction with his new book, Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water.
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Blog: Asian Water Shortages May Not Be as Bad as Previously Thought
Some of Asia's mighty rivers will be hit hard by climate change, with nearly 60 million people facing potential food shortages as a result, but other rivers will see little change, as was previously predicted.
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"Venice of Asia" Canals Disappearing
As pollution and overcrowding shrink Kashmir's lakes, the region's famed tourist houseboats may also shut down, one scientist says.
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Brazilian Water Protection a $100 Million Market?
With conservation cheaper than cleanup, governments are paying people to protect water supplies at the source.
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Dams Stop More Than Water
The world’s dams have allowed cities to sprout in dry lands—but at a steep cost in food and income to 400 million already impoverished people, according to a new report.
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Urban Fishing Catches On in Rebounding Rivers
Across Europe, fish are returning to city waterways thanks to major cleanup efforts in recent decades. And with them, a rare species of recreationist: the urban angler.
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Blog: Passing the Point of Peak Water
Experts say certain areas of the world are past the point of cheap, easy-to-access water, and that as a result, we may soon be paying more for this limited resource.
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Patagonia to Be Drowned?
A massive hydroelectric plan may dam Patagonia's wild rivers and cut a powerline path long enough to stretch from Maine to Florida. Chile needs energy, but conservationists warn that the dams will destroy what makes Patagonia special.
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Blog: Guinea Worm in Retreat in Southern Sudan
The Guinea worm, a parasite obtained through stagnant water, is on the verge of being eradicated in African countries.
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"Fossil" Groundwater Running Out
Water-strapped countries are tapping ancient underground aquifers to stay afloat. But so-called paleowater won't last forever, experts warn.
Latest News
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Ethiopia’s Extreme Salt Mines
Salt from the Afar region of Ethiopia, one of the Earth's hottest places, makes its way to market.
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Paul Theroux’s Last Trip to Africa
Travel writer Paul Theroux takes one more trip to Africa and writes about it in his new book, The Last Train to Zona Verde.
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3-D Printers: Life Saving
The emerging technology has printed out a life-saving implant for a baby—and is poised to make pizzas that are out of this world.
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Photos: Energy-Smart Zoos
Keeping a diverse crowd of species comfortable comes with an elephant-sized energy bill for zoos and aquariums. These green exhibits cut demand.
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Catch the Triple Planet Huddle
How to watch Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter meet in the night sky this weekend.
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Week's Best Space Pictures
The Ring Nebula shines, a volcano erupts, and Germans see the bat signal in this week's best new space pictures.
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Virgin Birth Explained
The mysterious arrival of a zoo anteater has some talking virgin birth, or parthenogenesis. See what other animals have babies without fathers.
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Australia as Climate Predictor
As extreme weather seems to accelerate globally, scientists believe events Down Under can help explain what to look for-and guard against.
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Top 10: Stellar Twins, Few Frogs...
On our radar today: A pair of stars is closer to Earth than we thought, U.S. amphibians are disappearing at an alarming rate, you can now lease a launch pad from NASA, and...
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Active Hurricane Season on the Way
NOAA expects up to 20 named tropical storms, which could yield as many as six major hurricanes, as it utilizes new technology to improve forecasting.
From Our Blogs
More news and perspective from National Geographic.
Latest News
The World's Water
The world's increasing population and development of agricultural land are putting pressure on the Earth's limited freshwater supplies. Find out what's at stake and how you can help.
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Why Should You Care?
Learn more about the world's water challenge with photos, stories, videos, and more.
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Visualizing Our Water Footprint
You might be surprised to see how the daily choices you make affect critical watersheds around the world.
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How Much Water Per Pound?
How much water does it take to put beef, pork, wheat, and more on your plate? Explore our water footprint interactive and find out.
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Posts From National Geographic Freshwater Fellow Sandra Postel
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Ireland to Charge for Water for the First Time
New plan aims to boost water conservation.
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The Water Costs of the Choices We Make
Everything we do has an impact, but there are simple steps we can take to reduce water use.
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Australia's Bold Plan to Save a Dying River
Authorities hope better management can restore an iconic ecosystem.
Stories From the Field
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Why We Shouldn’t Dam the Mekong
National Geographic Fellow Zeb Hogan tells us what needs to happen in order to save the region's giant fish.
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Rainwater Harvesting in India
Sunita Narain tells us how one remote village is setting an example for the rest of the country—and world.
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Boston Water Conservation
National Geographic Freshwater Fellow Sandra Postel describes one of the biggest success stories in urban water management.
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