Icelandic Windfall or Eco Disaster? May 27, 2007 - K‡rahnjœkar, Iceland - An activist protests the building of a billion-dollar dam at K‡rahnjœkar in the eastern highlands of Iceland. The dam, which has been completed now and cost more than $2.2 billion, was built to provide energy for the American company AlcoaÕs aluminum smelter. Critics argue that the dam devastated eastern IcelandÕs magnificent glacier landscape and claim itÕs an environmental disaster and the first step to a polluted industrialized future, while supporters claim it will bring investment and jobs to the region. Various planned smelters worldwide would be powered by constructing new megadams that would flood large areas of unique wilderness.
Picture ©Floris Leeuwenberg/TCS/zReportage.com