Silting is the accumulation of sediments (sand, rubble and garbage, for example) in the beds of lakes, rivers and other water courses, a phenomenon caused naturally or by human influence.
Even though it is considered a natural process, silting becomes more intense and aggressive to the environment through human action.
The accumulation of garbage in rivers and the deforestation of riparian forests (vegetation close to the banks of watercourses) help enhance siltation, causing negative consequences for the quality of life of all beings that inhabit the region affected.
Silting has occurred on the planet for thousands of years, even before the appearance of human beings. Naturally, however, this phenomenon develops much more slowly, being constituted mainly from the natural processes of river erosion.
Learn more about the meaning of Erosion.
Consequences of silting
Among some of the main consequences of silting is the diversion of river courses, the formation of sand banks (hindering the navigability of the river) and the decrease of oxygen present in the water, causing the death of living beings in it inhabit.
In rainier seasons, the silted rivers and lakes are also at risk of flooding, as there is a drastic change in the volume of water and its flow area.
In the last case, depending on the degree of siltation of the river, it can be gradually extinguished.
See also: the meaning of eutrophication.
To avoid silting, the first and main step is to make people aware of the importance of not polluting rivers and lakes. In addition, warn about the fundamental role that riparian forests develop to maintain the structure of watercourses.
Depending on the location, some of the silted areas can be recovered through the desilting, which consists of dredging excess substances and sediments that are disposed at the bottom of rivers.