the dry riverbed of the Colorado River
an aerial view of the Colorado River reservoir and fields near Meeker
a hunter wears a bird as a hat in the Indus River
a man in boat near bridge on Indus River
three small figures near banks of the Amu Darya
an aerial view of the Syr Darya River near Tashkent
the Rio Grande River with blue sky and clouds
algae in the Rio Grande and Arroyo San Carlos
The Yellow River runs next to the Great Wall of China
A crowd watches rushing water
Men with boats planting rice in Teesta River
drought-stricken trees near the Murray River
the mouth of the Murray River
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Colorado RiverMarch 22 is World Water Day, a time to reflect on the state of the world’s freshwater. The Colorado River is one of the most fully used—and heavily contested—waterways on Earth. It provides water for 30 million people and has many dams and diversions along its 1,450-mile (2,333-kilometer) path. In its natural state, the river flowed all the way from the high plains of the Western U.S. to the Gulf of California in Mexico. But because it is so heavily tapped along the way for agriculture, industry, and municipal uses, it rarely reaches the ocean anymore. For a few short weeks in 2014, the U.S. and Mexico cooperated, allowing the waters to reach the ocean. An effort is underway to restore the flow permanently, but is unlikely to be implemented soon. Related: Explore the Colorado River (map)
Photograph by Peter McBride, Nat Geo Image Collection

8 mighty rivers run dry from overuse

From the American West to China, Australia to India, some of the world's most important rivers have been drained dry for agriculture, industry, and drinking water.

ByBrian Clark Howard and Alejandra Borunda

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