Figure 21.15: The states and Canadian Provinces surrounding the Great Lakes have created
a pact to control water in the lakes, preventing other states from over-draining the lakes. ( 9 )
Some of today’s greatest tensions are happening in places where water is scarce. Water
disputes are happening along 260 different river systems that cross national boundaries
including water disputes between:
- Iraq, Iran, and Syria
- Hungary and Czechoslovakia
- North and South Korea
- Iran and Syria
- Israel and Jordan
- Egypt and Ethiopia
International water laws, such as the Helsinki Rules, help interpret water rights among
countries.
Lesson Summary
- Water is a renewable resource, but it is not unlimited. Humans are limited to less than
one percent of the water on Earth. Also, water is not evenly distributed across the
globe.