Artificial Natural Worlds

The majority of people around the world live on the banks of rivers or near the coastline. In order to optimally use the water and at the same time to protect against flooding, people intervene in the water’s natural flows. They straighten rivers or divert them underground, build canals and dams, or protect the coast with dykes. And they often dispose of their waste in water bodies. In many places, we are now trying to “repair” the imbalances or remove the contaminants that have ensued over the years. The goal is to harmonise the natural cycles of water with the needs of people. Cities, countryside and water are to merge into a common habitat.