The international team of scientists has clearly demonstrated that in large-scale regions the construction of large dams and, in particular, hydroelectric power stations not only does not solve the problems of access to water resources, but also exacerbates them. The corresponding study was published in the journal Nature Communications, briefly reported by Lenta. Ru with reference to New Scientist.

According to calculations of specialists, almost a quarter of the world population because of the construction of dams is experiencing a shortage of water resources. The total cost of erecting hydroelectric facilities in the last decade is estimated at $ 2 trillion.

In total, according to experts, as a result of the construction of dams, 23 percent of the world's population suffered, and only 20 percent. As a rule, as a result of erecting a dam, damage is inflicted on territories that are downstream of the river.

Scientists have cited several characteristic examples. In particular, the dams on the Yellow River led to drought in the north of China, the construction of hydraulic facilities in the Indian Ganga provoked drainage in Bangladesh, the dams built on the Turkish section of the Euphrates, caused a drought in Iraq, the construction of hydroconstructions on the Colorado River in the US led to a shortage of water in Mexico.

The authors came to similar conclusions analyzing the dynamics of people's access to fresh water for the period from 1971 to 2010.

For this, scientists divided the globe into segments of 2.5 thousand square kilometers each.

Experts managed to prove the popular point of view that even if in some regions after the construction of dams the problem of water supply is successfully solved, it immediately appears in the neighboring territories. Thus, large river HPPs (unlike, for example, tidal ones) can not be considered an alternative source of energy, as they cause serious damage to the environment.