8 Photos That Show Nature Rebounding During Coronavirus
Updated: Apr. 27, 2020With nearly one-third of the world's population under some form of stay-at-home order, nature has an unprecedented opportunity to heal itself.
As the novel coronavirus pandemic rages across the globe, at least one-third of the world’s population is under some sort of stay-at-home order. The limited outside activity has devastated the global economy, but without human interference, the natural world has been thriving. While these signs of nature bouncing back will likely only last as long as self-quarantine restrictions remain in place, they drive home the impact that “normal” human behaviour has on wildlife and the natural environment. Here are eight photos that show just how nature is healing itself in the midst of coronavirus.
Less trafficked canals in Venice
The country-wide lockdown of Italy due to the pandemic has significantly decreased boat traffic in Venice’s historical waterways. Residents have reported that they’re beginning to see fish, seaweed and swans in the canals that are normally congested with gondolas, water taxis and cruise ship tenders.
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White sand and blue waters in Miami
Now that the heavily visited beaches in Miami, Florida, are closed to beachgoers, the sand is cleaner, and the water is clearer. “It was special; definitely something that felt unbelievable,” Mark Ruiz, who was recently filming a marketing video on the beach, told WLPG. “I felt like I was in a movie. The ocean was crystal clear, neon blue; you could see right through the bottom of the ocean. I’ve never seen the water that blue in the years that we’ve been filming in South Florida.”
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A vacant 7th Avenue in Manhattan
Due to a stay-at-home order, it’s no surprise the normally crowded streets of Manhattan have cleared out. The normally bustling city now has a fraction of its regular vehicular traffic, and as a result, carbon monoxide emissions have decreased by nearly 50 per cent.
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Empty streets in Istanbul
Istanbul’s Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge connects Europe and Asia, and is a major artery that’s normally packed with vehicular traffic. With travel restrictions in place to slow the spread of coronavirus, the bridge is eerily empty.
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A defined Los Angeles skyline
L.A.’s characteristically smoggy skyline has cleared up—at least temporarily. With a stay-at-home order in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, nitrogen levels have reportedly dropped significantly.
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Clear skies in Nepal
Nepal’s capital Kathmandu is one of the most polluted cities in the world. By the sixth day of the nationwide coronavirus lockdown, however, air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley had eased to such an extent that the Langtang Mountain range of the Himalayas became visible from the city. That might not sound like a big deal, but considering it’s been more than 30 years since the skies have been that clear, it’s something to celebrate.
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Crisp air in New Delhi
The iconic India Gate war memorial in New Delhi is now closed for visitors during the nationwide lockdown. The skies that serve as the backdrop to the monument are normally discoloured with smog, but the temporary break in Delhi’s infamous traffic gridlock has helped improve air quality significantly.
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A rainbow in China
This beautiful rainbow appeared at Hukou Waterfall Scenic Spot on the Yellow River in China, providing a glimpse of hope when we need it most. Next, check out what wild animals have been up to while humans are in quarantine.
