Story Info
Story Info
Shachaf Polakow
2023
Type of Wounded Place
Story & Experience
A visit to The Ohio always brings mixed feelings, one can see beautiful wildlife and nature, people enjoying the open public spaces, but on the other hand, there are many factories, plants, barges with coal and other resources, and recreational boats and vehicles with their noise.
Today the quality of the air was bad, hazy and smoky both from the fires in Canada and local air pollution, which created an eerie atmosphere. There were still many people out enjoying the river, but one could not avoid the thought of what will be the future of the river, will people be able to access it safely, and will the wildlife survive?
A visit to The Ohio always brings mixed feelings, one can see beautiful wildlife and nature, people enjoying the open public spaces, but on the other hand, there are many factories, plants, barges with coal and other resources, and recreational boats and vehicles with their noise.
Today the quality of the air was bad, hazy and smoky both from the fires in Canada and local air pollution, which created an eerie atmosphere. There were still many people out enjoying the river, but one could not avoid the thought of what will be the future of the river, will people be able to access it safely, and will the wildlife survive?
Why this Place?
The Ohio River is the second most endangered river in the US. I choose a place that has a rich and complex history, while today it is mostly used for recreation.
The river carries the stories of the past and present, stories of the buffalos that crossed, and indigenous and Native people that lived and visited it.
But it was also the barrier that separated enslaved people from freedom, many crossed, while others were sent on boats south to more southern plantations. It took many generations before people were freed and could cross and use the river without any threat.
The industrial revolution, coal mining and later 20th-century industries polluted the river. While it might not be as bad as it used to be, like the instances of the river being on fire, it is still not healthy and healed.
According to a recent publication, it is the second most endangered river in the US, threatened both by pollution and climate change.
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