Science1 hSeptember 25, 2026, 22:25

Alaska's Orange Rivers Carry Metals Up to 70 Times Above Normal

An analysis of six watersheds in Alaska's Brooks Range found that tributaries feeding the region's orange rivers are extremely acidic and metallic, with levels comparable to drainage from metal mines. Contaminated water travels over 60 miles (100 km) downstream, with metal concentrations rising roughly 70-fold. Thawing permafrost driven by rising temperatures is the cause, according to the study in AGU Advances.

Gizmodo

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Alaska's Orange Rivers Carry Metals Up to 70 Times Above Normal

Acidity and metals in tributaries match mine drainage levels
Contamination travels more than 100 km downstream
Metal concentrations rise about 70 times along the way
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