Since Lake Nicaragua is the country's key source of fresh water, there could be problems with its effect on the lake, which also happens to be the largest lake in Central America.
The proposed route for the Nicaragua Canal shows a shipping channel running through the lake. Nature magazine has also warned of a probable environmental disaster and stated concern that HKND Group, headed by Chinese tycoon Wang Jing, has no obligation to reveal the results of its environmental surveys to the public.
Also, a report from the Associated Press portraying concerns with the Nicaragua Canal reads:
"While the new waterway - set to rival the Panama canal - has the support of the president, Daniel Ortega, and most Nicaraguans, many legal experts claim it violates the country's national sovereignty. Environmental experts warn construction could cause profound ecological damage by damming rivers, splitting ecosystems and moving untold tons of earth. Others fear the project is not economically feasible."
Salt water plus fresh water. What could go wrong? - Nicaragua canal route: Atlantic-Pacific link unveiled https://t.co/de6QCbF9zd
— Brian Smith (@ListenBrian) July 8, 2014
Dr. Prosanta Chakrabarty explains other potential problems for the construction of the Nicaragua Canal. He said, 'Lake Nicaragua has the highest concentration of drinking water in Latin America.'
Nicaragua Canal, Chakrabarty said, could mean dire consequences and a tragedy for many Nicaraguans in the region. If transformed into a shipping route, it is highly like that Lake Nicaragua could no longer provide potable drinking water or freshwater for local agriculture.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
