Thawing permafrost has released iron and other elements into more than 200 Arctic Alaskan rivers, turning water orange in a phenomenon known as ‘rusting rivers’
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Attracta Mooney in London
DECEMBER 17 2025 5:00 AM
The Arctic has experienced its warmest and wettest year on record, a long-running study by the leading US atmospheric agency has found, and the rapid melt of permafrost has caused rivers to turn orange from leached metals.
