Saudi Arabia Is Building The World's Largest Artificial River In The Desert

Summary

Saudi Arabia is undertaking an ambitious project to construct the world's longest artificial river, stretching over 12,000 km, using advanced desalination technology to convert seawater into freshwater. This monumental endeavor aims to transform barren deserts into fertile lands, revolutionizing agriculture and sustainability in one of the driest regions on Earth. With a staggering budget, the project reflects the Kingdom's commitment to overcoming water scarcity and diversifying its economy away from oil dependence.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Saudi Arabia is undertaking a monumental project to construct an artificial river that will extend over 12,000 km across its deserts, aiming to transform barren lands into fertile ones using advanced desalination technology.
• 💧 The project's scale is unparalleled, with a massive budget reflecting the Kingdom's commitment to overcoming water scarcity by converting seawater into freshwater.
• 🌱 The artificial river is designed to revolutionize agriculture and sustainability in one of the driest regions on Earth, with plans to irrigate vast desert areas to secure water and food needs.
• 🏗️ The man-made marvel will be the world's longest underground canal, utilizing state-of-the-art desalination technology to produce approximately 9.4 million cubic meters of water daily.
• 🚰 The river's design includes specialized anti-corrosion pipes with a diameter of 2.25 meters to ensure freshwater transport across the country, minimizing evaporation losses due to extreme desert temperatures.
• 📊 Saudi Arabia's water use has dramatically increased over the past decades, shifting from local renewable sources to desalinated water and ancient fossil groundwater.
• 💸 The government has implemented policies to encourage water conservation, including the introduction of water charges and the promotion of efficient irrigation methods like drip irrigation.
• 🌾 Wheat farming, which was previously a significant water consumer, has been reduced and eventually stopped altogether by 2016 to conserve water resources.
• ♻️ The Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) plays a key role in overseeing desalinated water production, making Saudi Arabia the top global producer of desalinated water.
• 🌐 The project's engineering feat could redefine water supply infrastructure, with the pipe system alone being capable of encircling the globe multiple times if laid end to end.
• 🔄 The desalination process, central to the project, uses both membrane and thermal desalination techniques to efficiently convert seawater into clean, drinkable water.

Q & A

What is the primary goal of Saudi Arabia's artificial river project?

The primary goal of the artificial river project is to transform barren deserts into fertile lands by creating the world's longest underground canal, using advanced desalination technology to convert seawater into freshwater, thereby addressing water scarcity and promoting agricultural self-sufficiency.

How does the scale of the proposed artificial river compare to the Nile River?

The artificial river is set to dwarf the Nile in ambition and size, extending over 12,000 km across the desert, which is significantly longer than the Nile River.

What technology will be used to convert seawater into freshwater for the project?

Advanced desalination technology will be utilized, employing both membrane desalination and thermal desalination techniques to remove salt and impurities from seawater.

How does the artificial river project aim to minimize evaporation losses?

The artificial river will be constructed underground, which is designed to minimize evaporation losses, a critical consideration given the extreme temperatures of the desert.

What is the expected daily water production of the artificial river project?

The project is expected to produce approximately 9.4 million cubic meters of water daily.

What role does the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) play in the project?

The SWCC, a state-owned entity, plays a pivotal role by overseeing desalinated water production across the kingdom, ensuring a steady supply of fresh water to meet the domestic needs of the population and industries.

How has Saudi Arabia's approach to water usage evolved over the past decades?

Saudi Arabia initially relied on local renewable water sources but shifted to using desalinated water from the sea and ancient fossil groundwater. The country has moved towards more sustainable practices, encouraging water conservation and reducing water subsidies.

What measures has the Saudi Arabian government taken to encourage water conservation in agriculture?

The government has introduced measures such as drip irrigation systems and soil moisture sensors to help farmers use water more efficiently, and has reduced subsidies for water-intensive crops like wheat.

How does the artificial river project fit into Saudi Arabia's broader economic diversification strategy?

The project is part of a strategy to diversify the economy away from oil dependency by investing in large-scale, technologically advanced water resource management projects, which can support agricultural development and reduce reliance on food imports.