Siberia: Russian Arctic River Mysteriously Turns Blood-Red
Editor's Comment: The locals blame the mining plant, which they've named Nadezhda, saying she's having her time of the month. You have to love Russian humor.
The Daldykan River near Norilsk in Siberia lost its natural color on Tuesday, as locals posted jaw-dropping images of the crimson river on social media.
Казни египетские. Норильск, река Купец вблизи завода "Надежда". pic.twitter.com/X3Oc2wtfRq
— Юрий Мережко (@yoorashka) September 7, 2016
Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology confirmed that it had received reports of river pollution “with an unidentified chemical substance,” saying there could have been an accident at the Norilsk Nickel plant, the world’s largest producer of nickel and palladium.
The plant’s administration denied these allegations, however, RIA Novosti news agency reports.
Норильск pic.twitter.com/R22ucK2Mxv
— Mikhail Golub (@golub) September 7, 2016
“As of today, the polar division of the [Norilsk Nickel] company cannot confirm any leakage or accidental discharge of industrial waste into the Daldykan River, which could have affected the river’s state,” the company said in a press release. Nonetheless, it has been decided that the plant will temporarily lower its operational capacity and monitor the state of the environment around the facility and in the affected area of the river.
urprisingly, the plant’s press service told the news agency that the river’s color right now is actually its natural one.
Local emergencies service said they had not received any complaints about the river and have therefore not addressed the issue.
A state of emergency has not been declared, according to Norilsk mayor’s office, as the river does not contribute to the city’s water supply.
Locals have been more inquisitive, however, and have enthusiastically suggested reasons for the color change, with some asking whether a new episode of The Crimson Rivers was being filmed in the area, while others have suggested that it’s high time to go fishing, as all of the fish could now pass for salmon. Others blame the mining plant, which locals call by the female name Nadezhda, saying it is having its time of the month.
