Fun Facts
Oceans contain about 98% of all of the water in the world. Oceans also cover 71% of the world's surface area.Random Quote
One-fourth of China's lakes are considered to be eutrophic.
Coral reefs are the second most biologically diverse ecosystem and the most diverse aquatic ecosystem.
Only .01% of all of the water on Earth is found in lakes, rivers, and streams.
70% of all the water taken from freshwater sources is used to irrigate 17% of the world's cropland.
Coastal zones make up less than 10% of the ocean’s area but are home to 90% of marine species.
Agriculture uses up about 70% of all freshwater.
In the United States, 44% of lakes, 37% of rivers, and 32% of estuaries are unsafe for recreational activities due to high levels of toxic pollutants.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, about 60% of the world's 200 commercially valuable fish species are either overfished or fished to the limit.
Human activities are estimated to have seriously degrade about 10% of the world's coral reefs.
Each year, about 150 square miles of inland wetlands in the United States are destroyed.
About .014% of the world's total volume of water is readily available for human uses.
Groundwater supplies 75% of the drinking water in Europe, 51% in the U.S., 32% in Asia, and 29% in Latin America.
Chemicals from some types of algae, sea anemones, sponges, and mollusks, as well as porcupine fish, puffer fish, and sharks, have antibiotic or anticancer properties.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, 70% of the world's beaches are eroding rapidly due to coastal developments and a rising sea level (caused mostly by global warming).
Sources:
Miller, G. Tyler. Living in the Environment. 12th ed. Brooks/Cole, Wadsworth Gr. 2002.
Thorpe, Gary S. How to Prepare for the AP Environmental Science Advanced Placement Exam. Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. Hauppauge, New York: 2002.
