HotSpot: Sarno is the most polluted river in Europe

Known in ancient times as the Sarnus, the Italian river Sarno today leads the ranking of the most polluted rivers in Europe. It originates on the slope of Vesuvius and flows through Pompeii to Naples, and into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Sarno River has for centuries served as the waterway of southern Italy, and today its importance in the region is quite great. It is a pity that much of its course is polluted with huge amounts of industrial and agricultural waste, dumping in the water more every year. The river carries its muddy waters into the Gulf of Naples, which in turn poses a threat to the marine environment.