Due to industrialization and urbanization pollution level on earth has increased to an alarming rate. Pollution has affected not only air and land but has a major impact on the water bodies too. There are many rivers on the earth that have nearly become dead due to the rising level of pollution. Some of the rivers are mentioned below.

10.  Cuyahoga River –Ohio, U.S.A.

Cuyahoga River is a river that is situated in Ohio in Northeastern part. In the year 1959 this river became more to be known as the river which caught fire. This river is known to be among the dirtiest river in the USA. This river is known to be the river that catches fire as this river has caught fire many times. The first fire was in the year 1868. In the year 1952 there was a fire in the river which is said to be the biggest fire in the river. It caused damaged to many boats and offices situated near the river. The river due to these fires have become so polluted that people say that a person won’t die in the river due to drowning but due to decaying in the pollutants. Many measures and water cleaning acts have been passed yet the river is still polluted due to pollutants from houses and sewage water discharge in the river.

9. Lake Karachay – Russia

Lake Karachay is situated in the Ural Mountain that are located in Russia. This river has become much polluted since this was a dumping place for radioactive elements by the Russia. This lake is said to be among the most polluted lake in the world. Worldwatch Institute on Nuclear waste situated in Washington D. C. Published a report in which this lake is mentioned as the most polluted place on our planet. The water in the lake soon became to dry out beginning in the year 1960. More than half million human life was irradiated due to the drought caused by the radioactive dust which flew from the dry area of the lake. To stop the shifting of the sediments many blocks were placed in the lake. If you will just sit for more than an hour on the shore of this lake you are more certain to die. This is the pollution level of the lake. Now you can imagine how toxic this lake is.

7. Matanza-Riachuelo River – Buenos Aires, Argentina

Matanza Riachuelo River is located in Buenos Aires in Argentina. It is a sixty four Km river. The river is full of toxic substances and you can see the methane bubbles easily when you pass by the river. The foul smell you experience near the river is intolerable. There are many drainage pipes in the river that brings in the sewage discharge from the town. There are many slums located near the shoreline of the river and they discharge there waste into the river making it more polluted. There are many attempts made by the government of the country to clean the water from last 200 years. Many petroleum companies also dump their waste into the river.

6. Citarum River – West Java, Indonesia

Citarum River is situated in West Java located in Indonesia. This river is an important part of the people living in this region as it is used in fishery, agriculture, for electricity, water supply and sewerage. There are more than five million people residing near the river and the pollution in the river is mainly due to the human activities near the river. In last twenty years there has been urbanization in the river which has led to many problems like industrial waste discharge, household discharge and solid waste. All this pollutants has led to serious health problems among the people residing in the country. The total length of this river is 225 Km. This river is not only the most polluted river in the west java but it is also the longest one. Many measures have been taken to clean the river but still the river is very dirty.

5. Buriganga River – Dhaka, Bangladesh

Buriganga River flows in Dhaka in Bangladesh. This river is influenced by tide. It is a 27 Km river. It is the most important part of the Dhaka city. This river is used for many activities like navigation, recreational activities, water supply and sanitation. The river has become much polluted and has resulted in the biological death. The main pollutants in the river are from industrial discharge, human waste discharge and from solid waste. This is the main reasons why ths water has become so polluted that it is nearly becoming dead. There are no strong actions taken by the government to clean up the river. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority tried to clean the river in January this year. People clean their clothes full of dyes in the river. The pollutants like medical and industrial waste have made the pollution level very high.

4. Ganges River – Allahabad, India

Ganges River flows in Allahabad in India. River Ganges is a sacred river of Hindus in India. But this river is turning toxic. This is a holy place in India and people from all over the world come here to wash away the sins. The water will appear to be beautiful to look from far but this water has become highly polluted and hence disgusting. The pollution level has increased to a very high level that there is ten thousand times more pollution in the river than the one tolerable. The river is full of pollutants like mercury and arsenic. The shore line of the river is very fertile and hence one of the most populated place in India. This high population has resulted in the increase of population as people dump their household waste in the river. Many industrial wastes like wastage from hospitals, chemical refineries and petroleum are discharged into the river making the river polluted instead of sacred.

3. Yellow River – Lanzhou, China

Yellow river flows in Lanzhou in China. It is on the second number in the list of longest rivers in China. The water of Yellow river is used as a water supply to twelve percent of the total Chinese population and it is also used in irrigation. Though this river is necessary for the livelihood for many people but it is also the most destructive river in the world. There have been 1500 floods due to this river which has taken life of millions of human beings. Rivers in China are becoming unfit for human beings as there have been many chemical and oil spills in them. Like all other rivers the main reason for the pollution of this river is also the discharge from houses situated near the rivers, agricultural and industrial discharge.

8. Yamuna River – New Delhi, India

Yamuna River flows in Delhi in India. This river originates from the Yamunotri glacier. The river has a length of 137 kilometers. The river has become a sewage drain in the recent years. People in New Delhi are discharging 500,000,000 gallons of waste into the river. Many insecticides and pesticides are found in the river. Lindane an insecticide is recently found in many vegetables that are grown in the river. The main reasons for the pollution in river are the soil erosion caused due to deforestation, human wastage discharge and agricultural discharge like insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers. Yamuna has become much polluted due to the increase in industries and urbanization near the river. New Delhi dumps fifty eight percent of all its waste in this river making it one of the most polluted rivers in the world.

2. Chaohu Lake – Anhui Province, China

Chaohu Lake is also known by the name of Chao Lake. It is situated in the Anhui Province in China. Chinese economic growth has led to the pollution of this lake making it one of the most polluted places on earth. This lake is all full of algae; in fact it is all covered with algae. There is a blue algae outbreak danger in the lake which has resulted in many diseases. The lake is full of nitrogen and phosphorus compound that can promote the algae outbreak in the lake.

1. Jordan River – Israel

Jordan River flows in West Asia. The length of this river is 251 kilometer. This is considered to be a holy place as Jesus is said to be baptized here. The construction of the damn across the river has greatly affected the ecosystem of this river. The river is full of sewage that is either not treated or partially treated. The foul smell of this river is not tolerable and is choking. The agricultural discharge has also led to the pollution of this river.