High temperatures and deceased turtles discovered in the South Pond of Novorossiysk
In the protected area of Novorossiysk's southern ponds, residents have stumbled upon an unusual occurrence: hot water flowing into one of the ponds. This discovery was made when locals attempted to release carp into the affected waterbody, as the fish and other aquatic life showed signs of distress.
"The carp started floating on their sides and desperately tried to jump out. We could see they were stressed. On touching the water, we found it was excessively warm. Observing the situation, we noticed dead frogs and a deceased turtle," the locals reported.
To verify this thermal anomaly, journalists from Kuban 24 TV channel used a thermometer to measure the water temperature. Yana Annenkova, their special correspondent, disclosed that the temperature on one side of the pond was approximately 26°C. However, the area where the water was flowing out showed a significantly high temperature of 37°C, reaching up to 38°C. In the other two ponds, the temperatures ranged from 17°C to 26°C.
Sergei Strypukhin, an ecologist, explained that high water temperature harms the pond's inhabitants as fish, frogs, reptiles, and turtles die at such temperatures. Strypukhin stated that an acceptable temperature for the pond to heat up without the need for any emergency leaks would be up to 30°C.
Specialists suspect the cause of this heating could be a ruptured hot water supply pipe, a plausible explanation given a similar incident three years ago in the same area. Local residents recalled that the hot water flowed in from a location about 200 meters away, where a hot water pipe had burst three years back.
However, ATEK representatives deny any problems with their networks in the region. Sergei Zelenov, director of the ATEK "Novorossiysk Thermal Networks" branch, confirmed that there have been no leaks in the area, and the cold water coming out from the sewage collector leading towards the ponds was approximately 10°C.
In light of the issue, the Novorossiysk administration has formed a working group to investigate the cause of the problem and promise to resolve it within two days. The group aims to identify the source of the hot water and take necessary action.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that hot water inflows into natural ponds or lakes, especially in regions with geological activity like Novorossiysk, are often caused by geothermal sources beneath the Earth's surface, which can allow heated water to emerge and flow into surface water bodies. This phenomenon is attributed to the general geographic context and scientific understanding of geothermal activity in such areas.
- The unusual hot water flowing into Novorossiysk's southern ponds could potentially harm the health and wellness of the aquatic life, as the high temperature, reaching up to 38°C, is lethal for fish, frogs, reptiles, and turtles, according to Sergei Strypukhin, an ecologist.
- Furthermore, the rising temperature in the ponds could be indicative of broader environmental challenges, such as climate change, as such thermal anomalies could be linked to geothermal sources beneath the Earth's surface, as shown by the general geographic context and scientific understanding of geothermal activity in the area.
- While specialists suspect a ruptured hot water supply pipe could be the cause of the heating, considering a similar incident three years ago, the Novorossiysk administration should also consider the potential long-term implications for mental health and wellbeing of the community, as this environmental disturbance could lead to increased stress and worry amongst residents.
