“Colombia’s most wanted FARC dissident killed in Venezuela”
Colombia’s election campaigns come to an end amid...
Francia Marquez
Colombia investigating attacks against media and journalists
Why State mafia allies threaten Colombia’s democracy
Colombia’s establishment candidate disappoints in election polls
Colombia’s far-right trying to postpone presidential elections
Colombia’s opposition embarks on anti-election fraud offensive
Establishment candidate in Colombia’s elections linked to mafia
Far-right group goes from opposing communism to opposing...
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
News

International environmental conference to discuss problems with major Colombian canal

by Charlie de Rivaz September 5, 2013

The Dique canal, which connects the Caribbean port city of Cartagena to the center of Colombia, will be the topic of discussion on Thursday at an international environment conference.

The Second World Environment Conference will be held in Cartagena, and will focus on the environmental impact of the canal, which stretches for 73 miles from Cartagena Bay to the most important river in Colombia, the Magdalena, in the Bolivar department in the north of the country.

The canal was first built in 1582 by Spanish colonizers and for a long time connected formerly isolated Caribbean districts with the rest of Colombia. But recently the canal has become an economic, environmental, and life-threatening problem.

In 2010 heavy rains resulted in the Dique Canal breaking open an 800ft hole in its banks. The subsequent floods led to the damage of fields, houses, and the displacement of 150,000 people. In total, 18 municipalities in 3 different departments were affected.

MORE: North Colombia canal repaired after devastating floods

In addition, it is estimated that of the 10 million tons of sediment that enter the canal from the Magadalena River, some 2 million make it to Cartagena Bay where they are destroying the habitat of the marine life, not just in the bay but also in island archipegalos nearby.

The Minister and the Viceminister for Environment and Sustainable Development will attend the conference, along with environmental experts from all over Colombia and commentators from newspaper El Espectador, Caracol TV and the Nature Conservancy.

Sources

  • Canal del Dique, tema del Segundo Foro Mundial del Medio Ambiente (El Espectador)
  • Wikipedia: Canal de Duque
Cartagenadique canalenvironmentMagdalena riverministry of environment

Trending

  • Colombia’s far-right trying to postpone presidential elections

  • Establishment candidate in Colombia’s elections linked to mafia

  • Colombia’s establishment candidate disappoints in election polls

Related articles

  • COP26: Colombia vows to protect 30% of national territory before 2023

  • Southwest Colombia world’s most dangerous place for environmental activists: report

  • Tropical storm and heavy rains kill at least 5 in Colombia

  • RSS

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top