The main sources of nutrition for rivers in Azerbaijan

Abstract

In Azerbaijan, the main water sources of rivers stem from natural features such as mountain springs and precipitation. However, the local flora and fauna surrounding the rivers also contribute to their nourishment. Vegetation along riverbanks and coastal zones helps protect the quality of the water. The sources of river nutrition form as a result of the interaction between natural and anthropogenic factors.

Vital sources of river nutrition, their causes, the extent to which rivers are nourished by these sources, and their impact on our ecosystem are significant points of concern.

When rivers are nourished naturally, such as through mountain waters, glacial melt, rainfall, etc., ecological balance is maintained. However, when human influence comes into play, this balance changes, either on a small or large scale, depending on the degree of intervention. This change, in turn, affects the quality of the rivers, their internal characteristics, the organisms living in them, and the surrounding flora and fauna.When dams are built, the positive aspects are often emphasized, such as the fact that the dam facilitates irrigation of areas used for agriculture, supports the development of fishing, and contributes to the construction of hydropower stations, thus providing electricity to surrounding areas. While this is true, what is often overlooked is that the dam blocks the river's flow, leading to poor water supply in downstream areas, negatively impacting the life activities of organisms, such as fish failing to spawn properly, disrupting the ecological balance, and causing plant water shortages during their growing seasons.

The article discusses the sources of nourishment for our rivers, their effects on the rivers and surrounding environment, as well as the food sources within the rivers themselves.