Acid Rain

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large. Detecting an acid lake is
often quite difficult. A lake does not become acid over night. It happens over a
period of many years, some times decades. The changes are usually to gradual for
them to be noticed early.

At the beginning of the 20th century most rivers/lakes like the river
Tovdal in Norway had not yet begun to die. However by 1926 local inspectors were
noticing that many of the lakes were beginning to show signs of death. Fish were
found dead along the banks of many rivers. As the winters ice began to melt off
more and more hundreds upon hundreds more dead fish (trout in particular) were
being found. It was at this time that scientist began to search for the reason.
As the scientists continued to work they found many piles of dead fish, up to
5000 in one pile, further up the river. Divers were sent in to examine the
bottom of the rivers. What they found were many more dead fish. Many live and
dead specimens were taken back to labs across Norway. When the live ...

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such as calcium and limestone; in the soil had been washed away. It is
these lakes that we must be worried about for they will soon become extinct.

A fact that may please fishermen is that in lakes/rivers they tend to catch
older and larger fish. This may please them in the short run however they will
soon have to change lakes for the fish supply will die quickly in these lakes.
The problem is that acid causes difficulties the fish's reproductive system.
Often fish born in acid lakes do not survive for they are born with birth
defects such as twisted and deformed spinal columns. This is a sign that they
are unable to extract enough calcium from the water to fully develop their ...

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