Hope, Human and Wild, written by Bill McKibben, focuses on a variety of locations in which people have come together in hopes of creating a sustainable and thriving metropolis. Mckibben exemplifies that by working to better the environment in which we live, we are further greatening our knowledge on the problems that we may face in the future. It is by creating innovative solutions to urban population problems that cities may thrive not only monetarily but environmentally also.
Curitiba, the capital of the southern province of Parana, is recognized today not only for its beauty but for the principles in which the city was built upon. Curitiba stands as an international blueprint for which distant communities can pay reference to when looking to build a sustainably pure and eco-rich municipality. Known for its forward thinking, the city of Curitiba has developed a city based solely upon the community to which it houses. With a growing populace of over two million, the brazilian people have created a bullet proof network for solving urban problems while remaining environmentally cautious and aware. Along with an immaculate bus route, breathtaking parks, community centers and community based projects dedicated to environmental awareness, Curitiba has one triumph i find particularly relevant to this blog. Water!
Water plays a monumental role in the city of Curitiba. Flowing from six substantial rivers from neighboring provinces, the city has braved water conservation with new technological advances based on past experiences. In the early 1960s Curitiba spent millions of dollars in attempts to try and reverse the affects of pollution runoff into its lakes and rivers. Looking to the past has only hastened the need to solve the city's water pollution. Due to the hasten the community has worked on alternative ways to reduce the pollution from the surrounding population by installing countless water treatment facilities throughout Curitiba. With over 1,000 park properties, a majority of which are privately owned, the city has taken advantage of the land by creating artificial lakes, streams and other run off areas. Due to the spacious area of the parks, treatment facilities have been able to be constructed throughout each of the water basins. Each day volunteers help to educate community members on the importance of water pollution and the affects the pollution of the Iguazu has on a global scale. The Iguazu river, runs west into the Rio Parana, one of the major rivers in Brazil which flows south into the Rio De La Plata estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. Diving Brief :
Although Brazil may have some great diving spots located far south of Curitiba, Rio De La Plata estuary is no such hot spot. The formation of estuaries make for an especially tricky diving environment due to the presence of halocline's. A halocline forms when saltwater and fresh water mix creating an oil-like substance in which it is very hard to see clearly. Due to the fact that saltwater is denser than freshwater the saltwater sinks while the freshwater remains on the surface. When i dove in Cozumel, Mexico over christmas i experienced a halocline (not an estuary) while diving in cenotes (caverns).
Recommendation- STAY OUT OF THE WATER!
It is easy to get disoriented and suffer from vertigo within the first couple minutes of entry.
Turbid unclean waters are perfect for shark feeding.
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