Pollution and trash on the banks of the Cumberland River

So, I have recently moved back to the southern US after almost 2

decades abroad and I have been alternately awestruck by some things

and shocked by others and this little series is a primitive attempt

to document some of it. Last weekend I decided to go take pictures

of Cumberland Falls in Kentucky. The falls are a protected nature

preserve known as the "Niagra of the South" and containing some of

the most beautiful scenery I have seen in a region reknowned for

beautiful scenery. And yet ... the pollution is beyond belief.

Coming from someone who has spent significant time in Kosovo,

Istanbul and Naples, this may be the most polluted body of water I

have ever seen. The banks of the river are covered with black gunk

and coal (don't let anyone sell you any shit about coal

being "clean" energy. It can be but only if environmental

regulations are enforced, which they obviously aren't). Every place

where the river drops and trees get stuck from high water is covered

with trash, coolers, trash bags, hair spray cans, car parts, you

name it. There are plastic bags caught in the branches of trees all

over the place and pipes everywhere dropping who knows what directly

into the river. I felt so angry and frustrated with the people who

do this and the government that allows it. "Don't piss in the creek

you drink from" is an old Southern saying, but seems to be one that

people don't believe in anymore.

Excellent photo.

Very nice, Bill. The isolated color in these photos works very well, I think. Usually I'm not a great fan of such image manipulation (though I have to cop to doing some myself) but with this series I find that you have used it judiciously to carry out your theme. They really do need to be appreciated as a group, though.