ChiangRaiDrought

23 APRIL 2014 - CHIANG SAEN, CHIANG RAI, THAILAND: PASIT, a watermelon farmer in Chiang Saen, Thailand, irrigates his fields. He waters the plants every five days. He said he's been growing watermelon for 10 years and used to grow rice but that the money was better with watermelons. Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand is facing a drought this year. The 2014 drought has been brought on by lower than normal dry season rains. At the same time, closing dams in Yunnan province of China has caused the level of the Mekong River to drop suddenly exposing rocks and sandbars in the normally navigable Mekong River. Changes in the Mekong's levels means commercial shipping can't progress past Chiang Saen. Dozens of ships are tied up in the port area along the city's waterfront. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ

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Filename: ChiangRaiDrought076.jpg
Copyright: © Jack Kurtz
Image Size: 4998x3332 / 9.1MB; 042114 Agriculture Beach Chiang Rai Climate Change Drought Environment Farm Global Warming Irrigation Labor Mae KHong Mekong River Thailand
Contained in galleries: Thailand (All)

23 APRIL 2014 - CHIANG SAEN, CHIANG RAI, THAILAND: PASIT, a watermelon farmer in Chiang Saen, Thailand, irrigates his fields. He waters the plants every five days. He said he's been growing watermelon for 10 years and used to grow rice but that the money was better with watermelons. Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand is facing a drought this year. The 2014 drought has been brought on by lower than normal dry season rains. At the same time, closing dams in Yunnan province of China has caused the level of the Mekong River to drop suddenly exposing rocks and sandbars in the normally navigable Mekong River. Changes in the Mekong's levels means commercial shipping can't progress past Chiang Saen. Dozens of ships are tied up in the port area along the city's waterfront. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ