The Emscher river, once known for its horrendous odor and pollution, has undergone significant restoration since 2021. Previously biologically dead, the river has shown a revival of flora and fauna, with sightings of kingfishers, freshwater shrimp, and even beavers reported by nature enthusiasts. The changes came as a response to the public health crises caused by waterborne diseases in the 1800s. Industrial leaders initiated efforts to improve sanitation and water quality, leading to the establishment of the Emschergenossenschaft, marking the beginning of the river’s restoration journey.
Strolling beside the Emscher, the Tyczkowskis say it is the stench that they remember most about the river's darker days. The whole thing was filthy and it stank terribly.
For more than a century, putrid fumes emanated from the sewer of the Ruhr, creating a pungent whiff that assaulted towns throughout Germany's industrial heartland.
The river system, the main part of which was once considered biologically dead, is witnessing an abundance of life return. Nature enthusiasts have spotted kingfishers and demoiselles in the region.
In former times, it was a sewer. Now, it is a river.
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