Green Trouble in Little China

If you thought water shortages in the U.S. were bad (and sometimes they really, really are) you might be surprised to find out that the eco-effect on water conservation isn’t the worst in the world.

I know what you’re thinking: What?! There’s actually a country that takes water for granted more? ‘Fraid so.

As it turns out, Forbes reports that China could be in some deep, deep trouble, thanks to a shallow, shallow lake. The country’s largest freshwater lake, Poyang Lake, has been hit with drought in the worst way. In just six months it has gone from 3000 square kilometers to just 50. Can you say ‘depletion’?

Apparently that’s not the half of China’s problems though. It's just an addition to insurmountable releases of greenhouse emissions and unwanted sandstorms that have yet to cease.

They’ve got some serious problems, to say the least. Here’s hoping things start looking up by the time the Beijing Olympics roll around later this year!

(Photo credit: ULTRA / Getty Images)