New studies are showing that Chinese cities are slowly sinking as a result of rapid development and excess groundwater use. According to reports, as many as 50 cities across the country are affected by soil subsidence, including the country’s largest - Shanghai. Apparently, Shanghai has been slowly sinking for at least 90 years. — inhabitat.com
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excess groundwater use is a bit of an oversimplification, particularly in shanghai. similar to new orleans (at the mouth of a major river at 30 degrees north) shanghai has sprawled over reclaimed wetlands: diked, pumped dry and backfilled, the subsidence of these former bogs will continue until subsurface organic materials have completely decomposed. the chinese passion for thoughtlessly reshaping the landscape will haunt them for years to come...
vivid case in point: google images for "shanghai building collapse"...
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