As Lake Mead, the world's largest artificial lake, dries up due to severe drought, the boats that had sunk to the bottom have become visible. [Photo by Instagram capture]
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Amid the surge of abnormal climate phenomena around the globe, the western United States appears to be suffering from severe drought.
Recently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released satellite images of Lake Mead, the world's largest artificial lake. Located on the border between Nevada and Arizona, this lake is known to serve as a major water source for the agricultural region in the southwestern United States.
The photos taken by NASA on the 3rd (local time) show the severely dried-up Lake Mead due to drought. As the lake dried up, boats that had sunk to the bottom became visible. Images of fish, hardened like stones, clinging between cracked crevices also appeared one after another on social networking services (SNS).
The change is even more dramatic compared to the state of Lake Mead over 20 years ago. According to satellite images taken by NASA on July 6, 2000, the width of Lake Mead was much wider, and the water color was a deep navy blue. The deeper the water, the darker the color. At that time, the water level of Lake Mead reached 1,200 feet (about 365 meters).
However, this year, Lake Mead has reached its lowest water level in history due to drought. According to NASA, the current water level has dropped to 1,042 feet (about 317 meters). This is the lowest level since April 1937, when Lake Mead began to be filled with water.
Experts analyze that this is because drought has worsened due to climate change, significantly reducing snowfall in the upstream mountainous areas of Lake Mead. Hot and dry weather caused by heatwaves is depleting the water. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), under the Department of the Interior, which manages Lake Mead's water resources, expects the water level to drop another 20 feet (about 6 meters) by next summer.
Satellite image of Midho released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). [Photo by earthobservatory website capture]
Given this situation, Nevada in the western United States has announced plans to limit the size of newly built swimming pools in homes. According to the Associated Press (AP) on the 23rd, the Clark County Council in Nevada passed a regulation by recent vote that sets the maximum area of newly built swimming pools in private homes to 56 square meters.
This area is roughly the size of three passenger cars. The regulation will take effect from September 1 and does not apply to existing pools. Additionally, residents who violate the regulation will face water shutoff measures.
According to AP, Clark County has a population of 2.4 million, with about 1,300 new swimming pools built annually. Currently, there are 200,000 private home swimming pools. However, resort and hotel pools are already subject to area restrictions and will not be affected by this new regulation.
Jim Gibson, chairman of the Clark County Council, told AP, "It was a difficult decision," adding, "If the drought continues and the lake keeps drying up, we will have to make tough decisions like this in the future as well."
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