Where There's a Will, There's a Waterway

Efforts are being made to preserve and protect navigable canals in Bangkok from falling victim to haphazard development and pollution.

1 minute read

August 13, 2004, 5:00 AM PDT

By Connie Chung

While the City of Bangkok's population increased 10- fold since the 1950's, more than half of its major navigable canals, known as klongs, have been filled in for roads and development.

In the past, the klongs housed floating restaurants and markets. "The changes have affected more than the merchants along the canals. Houses, once constructed to face the water, now turn their backs, opening onto alleys instead."

In addition, "Bangkok's population boom and the reduction in waterways taxed the remaining canals, filling many of them with sewage and making them unsuitable for anything but transportation. People who once used canal water every day will now hardly touch it."

Thanks to Connie Chung

FULL STORY: Bangkok's canals, once its lifeline, losing ground to urban sprawl

Thursday, August 12, 2004 in Environmental News Network

History / Preservation United States

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