Years environmentally friendly with high. World Health Organization: ranking of the cleanest cities

Tourism is a double-edged sword. It makes an important contribution to the development of the world economy, while often causing damage to nature. Take Everest, for example: the natural beauty and splendor of snow-capped peaks are slowly being devoured by thousands of plastic and aluminum cans, mountains of paper, glass, clothes, and even tents. And as the number of people who want to conquer Everest continues to grow, in the future, only a huge pile of garbage may remain.

Fortunately, there are still places on Earth that can surprise with their untouched beauty, fresh air and wildlife.

Here top 10 greenest and most environmentally friendly places in the world, selected according to various environmental ratings, including WHO data and Russian organization"Green Patrol".

Drive a few miles from downtown Canela and you'll be greeted by 500 acres of pine forests that are home to many wild capuchin monkeys, as well as blue jays and funny coatis.

The park is located at the top of a canyon that stretches for 420 m, at the point where the Santa Cruz River is outlined in the form of a horseshoe. Because of this, Ferradura Park is also known as "Horseshoe Park".

An abundance of greenery, fresh air, as well as a stunning view of the Arroyo Casador waterfall complete 4 tourist routes, 3 viewing platforms and infrastructure including 8 barbecue grills, playground and snack bar.

9. Val d'Orcia, Italy

Next on the list of the most ecologically clean areas The earth is coming an object world heritage UNESCO and one of the greenest and lushest places in Europe. This beautiful valley is located in central Italy in the Tuscany region and boasts endless, perfectly conical hills covered in sunflowers. Such charming landscapes have attracted the attention of countless artists (and since the Renaissance), as well as contemporary photographers that made this valley famous all over the world.

The best time to visit Val d'Orcia is from November to June, when there are not so many tourists and you can admire the vineyards for the famous Brunello wines and groves of green olive trees adjacent to miles of golden wheat fields in solitude.

8. Gorensky region, Slovenia

The rural part of this region is without a doubt the greenest and cleanest part of the entire country. The Gorenj region is home to the stunning Julian Alps that stretch from Italy to Slovenia.

The highest peak of the mountain range is Mount Triglav - it is also the Three-Headed Mountain. She is depicted on both the flag and the coat of arms of Slovenia. According to legend, the goat Zlatorog lived on the top of the mountain, whose horns were made of pure gold.

The surroundings of Triglav, like the mountain itself, are part of the only one in the country
National park.

7. Shetland Islands, Scotland

Secluded and pristinely beautiful, the Shetland Islands are perhaps the greenest part of the UK.

In total, the Shetland archipelago has about 300 islands, of which only 16 are inhabited. It is not surprising that the air there is clean and fresh, and nature is almost not spoiled by the human factor.

The preferred ecotourism destination is the Hermaness National Nature Reserve on Unst Island. Beautiful coastal scenery is complemented by the sight of many birds nesting on the sea cliffs and seals that can easily be mistaken for rocks until they start to jump into the water. In total, more than one hundred thousand species of various birds live in the reserve.

And when you get tired of watching the bird world, you can visit the boat museum or Muness Castle - one of the most fortified castles in Scotland.

If you want to visit one of the islands, keep in mind that even in summer it is not very hot there - the temperature rarely rises above 21 degrees.

6. County Kerry, Ireland

Ireland is one of the most ecologically clean countries in the world, and the county is its greenest place. This is facilitated by frequent precipitation and a warm oceanic climate.

Majestic mountain peaks, mist-shrouded marshes, golden fields, moorlands, rugged sea cliffs and secluded bays, County Kerry has it all. Visit this piece of paradise in the country of St. Patrick and the leprechauns if you want to enjoy all the beauty of nature (and at the same time visit the famous Irish pubs), away from smog and city noise.

Here are the best National parks countries, including national park Killarney, where visitors admire patches of wild forest, home to many foxes and deer, green hills, lakes, a waterfall and convenient trails and paths.

5. Tambov region, Russia

In 2018, this area became the leader environmental rating compiled by the organization "Green Patrol".

So if you miss the picturesque nature, fresh air and environmentally friendly products, then you can get all this without leaving Russia. For example, visiting tourist complex"Russian Village", spread out on the right bank of the Vorona River, where two zonal features: steppes and northern forests. Horseback riding, fishing and hunting are at guests' disposal.

4. Altai, Russia

Most environmentally friendly clean region Russia. The "Green Pharmacy" of the country, a place designed by Mother Nature herself for a relaxing holiday and escape from urbanization. And the second place in the purity of nature in the Green Patrol rating of 2018.

One of the most beautiful places Altai - Katunsky Reserve, which has the status of a biosphere. This is a specially protected area created to study and preserve the unique natural environment and ecosystems. On its territory is a large number of lakes, glaciers, about 700 species of plants and 47 species of mammals. It is not very easy to get to it, which is an additional protection of the reserve from crowds of tourists.

3. San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Fresh air, high altitude above sea level and proximity to the driest desert in the world make this Chilean village one of the most environmentally friendly places on Earth. There is none here noise pollution, nor harmful industries that poison water and air.

Can't boast of San Pedro de Atacama and large quantity attractions. The main one is the white church of San Pedro, built in the 17th century. To the west of the village is the picturesque Moon Valley. And not far to the south is one of the oldest Chilean archaeological sites Tulor settlement.

2. Te Anau, New Zealand

Testing conducted by experts from the World Health Organization showed that this is the most environmentally friendly city in the world.

Te Anau's location at the entrance to Fiordland National Park and proximity to two of the country's most beautiful fjords (Milford Sound and Daubtfall Sound) make it a base camp for hikers.

The best time to visit one of them is March or autumn, when the weather is mild and there are not as many tourists as in summer.

1. Lapland, Finland

The cleanest place in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The average content of micro-dust particles in this region does not exceed 6 micrograms per cubic meter is the lowest in the world.

And while you breathe fresh air, you can at the same time admire the magnificent view of the northern lights, or go skiing. Or combine all these things at once.

Other places in Finland also do not suffer in terms of ecology. It is not for nothing that it is called the "land of a thousand lakes", and the water in many lakes is so pure that it can be used for drinking and cooking, even without additional processing. For example, the huge Lake Päijänne supplies Helsinki with water, entering the city through a 120-kilometer tunnel cut through the granite rock mass. Drinking water straight from the tap is a matter of national pride for Finns and the envy of residents of other, less environmentally friendly countries.

AT recent decades the world is undergoing significant environmental changes, which partly contradict each other. For example, an increasing number of the world's population is gaining access to drinking water, high-quality food, environmental organizations are developing, but at the same time, the opposite process is also observed - air pollution is increasing, and the forest area is shrinking.

More than half of the world's population lives in unfavorable environmental conditions. Things are normal with the environment either in rich countries or in very poor ones (however, few people want to live in the latter).

Based on the collected data, the UN organizations compiled a list of the most environmentally friendly foreign countries.

As of 2019, Russia occupies only 32nd place out of 180 in it, but, unfortunately, the situation in the country does not change in better side, and there is a risk of a decrease in the environmental performance index.

Relatively recently gained full independence (originally belonged to Sweden, and later Russian Empire).
During their independent existence, the Finns were able to raise the level of industry and life in their country to one of the highest in the world. But despite this, the nature of the country was practically not affected and retained its diversity.

In Finland there are certain plans urban expansion to cause minimal damage to the environment. For example, the modern quarters of Finnish cities are densely located mid-rise buildings, where parking lots are moved underground, and the area between the buildings is a public space: courtyards, playgrounds, bicycle parking lots and several roads for cars to pass through.

Part public spaces they try to take them to the roofs or cascades (terraces) of houses. Modern architecture some quarters do not provide for the presence of courtyards at all, only narrow streets for moving between buildings.

Despite the fact that Finland is a relatively small country in terms of territory, its nature and landscape can show some diversity. In the northern part of the country coniferous forests not so much, but there are picturesque mountains and hills with their own fauna. If you move further south, coniferous forests, lakes and even birch groves will begin to appear more and more often. This region also has its own fauna.

The Finnish government and the country's environmental organizations care about the environment, so you can relax in nature only in strictly designated places or get a special permit. The same goes for hunting and fishing.

City authorities carefully monitor the cleanliness of cities. Construction sites are specially fenced so that debris is not accidentally blown away by the wind outside the construction site. Different ways recycling is encouraged - special terminals are installed in supermarkets and retail outlets for receiving bottles and plastic containers in exchange for receiving a cash reward or discount at this point.

The population can receive an impressive fine if they throw garbage on the street, and not in specially designated places. And also all garbage from residential buildings and other institutions must be packaged for further processing. The country is increasingly beginning to use alternative energy sources - solar energy, wind energy and hydropower.

Citizens of the state have access to one of the best systems education and medicine in Europe, and also receive fairly high salaries for decent life. However, the country has very high taxes.

Iceland is a sparsely populated country

In terms of environmental efficiency, it is almost identical to Finland, but it is only in second place in the ranking. The population of the country is a little over 320 thousand people, but this does not prevent the state from maintaining a high standard of living for the population and being an important economic partner in the European Union.

The name of the state and the island on which it is located is translated as "Country of Ice". The island is indeed one of the northernmost territories with a permanent population, rivaling Greenland and some islands in the Arctic Ocean.

Not much in Iceland natural resources(the lack of forests is especially felt), and the climate of the island is not suitable for efficient agriculture.

However locals found a way out of this situation - initially coal was used to heat houses, now it has been replaced by thermal springs.

The food problem is solved through the development of fish, greenhouse and livestock farming, and the missing products are imported from the countries of the European Union at low prices.

The weather conditions of the island are not typical for the Arctic territories and are somewhat reminiscent of the climate of St. Petersburg or London. Summer is relatively warm average temperature is about 15 degrees), it often rains and fogs form, sunny weather is relatively rare. In winter, the temperature rarely drops below 25 degrees below zero, with frequent clouds and snowfalls. And also in some areas of the island there is an arctic night, during which you can freely observe the northern lights.

This climatic anomaly is due to the fact that the island is on the way warm current Gulf Stream, thanks to which it is still not completely covered with ice. But also a small merit in shaping the climate of this territory belongs to thermal springs, and volcanic activity that took place in this place earlier.

The nature and fauna of the island is mostly typical of the Arctic territories. Often you can find various dwarf plants and moss, which densely covers rocks, various structures and plants. There are also full-fledged mixed and coniferous forests on the island, which occupy about ¼ of its part.

On the this moment the state actively encourages care for nature, as well as foreign migration.

Sweden and Denmark

These two states also have good ecology, but her condition in Sweden is somewhat better than in Denmark. Sweden is somewhat similar to Finland in terms of the way of life of the population, climate, economy and territory. However, there are twice as many residents.

Unlike many other European countries, there are no laws that encourage recycling, the development of cycling infrastructure, public transport. However, such bills are being developed.

Despite the recent hostilities in the country and neighboring Yugoslavia, Slovenia was able to quickly recover from the consequences of the war, raise the standard of living of the population to a decent level (by global standards) and join the European Union. Today, tourism is actively developing in the country, due to which most of the population of the state lives. In addition, the country has a powerful industrial and processing complex.

Most of the territory of Slovenia is the Alpine Mountains (about 42%) and the adjacent highlands (about 30%), the rest is the lowlands near the Danube River and other large waterways. Flora and fauna are not very diverse.

American scientists have calculated that more than 40% of deaths are due to pollution of the atmosphere, soil and water of the planet. At the same time, toxic human waste kills up to 3 million people annually. As a result of the impact on human body Atmospheric pollution in humans can cause diseases such as cancer, congenital pathologies, hypertension, or disorders of the immune system.

Often big cities covered with thick fog - smog. The composition of this fog includes waste smoke, gas, harmful aerosols. Smog adversely affects the health of people suffering from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and can cause exacerbation of diseases and even death. Smog is very harmful for children and pregnant women. Therefore, it is very important to know the ecological situation in a given area or city to take some measures to improve their ecology.

What determines the ecology of cities

By revising environmental situation In the cities of Russia, there are three main reasons for the appearance of pollution in the atmosphere of cities:

industrial waste;
emissions road transport;
natural pollution factors.

Industrial waste in the atmosphere is associated with the operation of enterprises and power plants. In many major cities industrial complexes are located, which are the culprits of environmental pollution.

How to improve the ecology of cities

In order to reduce industrial emissions need to be modernized old factories to reduce waste. AT best case This business should be shut down and a new one built. But this requires additional capital investment. Naturally, the owner of the plant does not want to spend extra money on installing some new filters or upgrading technological process. It is possible to force him to do such work only by legislative means, imposing heavy fines on the enterprise polluting the atmosphere.

To improve the environmental situation in cities with heavy traffic, it is necessary to pay more attention to the quality of the fuel used by cars, keep old cars out of the road, build roads and interchanges.

When designing new cities and settlements, architects should pay more attention to air circulation on the streets and in the yards of houses. New buildings should be located on hills, where they are well ventilated air currents.

Ecology of most large Russian cities is at a critical point. This is especially true for large industrial cities and metropolitan areas, in which a huge number of cars move.
World rating agencies confirm the conclusions about the crisis in the environment in our cities, including a number of Russian cities in the top ten most dirty cities peace.
To improve the ecology of large cities, it is necessary to take measures, including the modernization of obsolete industrial enterprises, cleanup of pollution and measures to improve issues related to the operation of vehicles.

Every year funds mass media and various organizations, engaged in health care, health protection and ecology publish ratings of the cleanest countries in the world. The criteria for determining the level of environmental cleanliness can be different factors, but the key among them is the state environment, water, sand, air, condition of rivers and lakes, urban space, streets, premises. Also, the impact of production on nature, the use of pesticides, the presence of trash cans, the level of exhaust gases, traffic jams are taken into account.

It is also important what place in the world a particular country occupies in terms of the number of green spaces, forests, parks and squares, how often people get sick, what diseases are common, whether there is a special environmental legislation in the state and a system of fines for violating cleanliness in in public places, pollution of nature and air.

The well-being of the population, the level of comfortable and quality life depend on the cleanliness of the city and the country. It's always nicer to walk clean streets, breathe freely, without fear of contracting diseases or harmful microbes.

Consider the 15 most environmentally friendly countries

1. Switzerland

For many years, no country in the world can challenge the leadership of this country in terms of cleanliness. The Swiss are proud of this status and try to live up to the high recognition. On the international level this is confirmed by the large influx of tourists, millions of whom come here every year.

Foreigners are attracted here by the unique atmosphere, clean environment, peaceful and healthy life, sociability of local residents. Switzerland is unique in its pursuit of cleanliness, and this has a positive effect on the quality of life, which is why the Swiss live longer than other Europeans. It is not only beautiful, but also safe.

2. Luxembourg

Clean and healthy air, many mountains and forests - that's business card this tiny country of the European continent. Everything is constantly shining on the streets, which is connected with the reverent attitude of the population to their own country and its beauty. It is the locals who are directly involved in maintaining cleanliness and order in Luxembourg, organizing the cleaning of water bodies, planting green spaces, and cycling rather than a car.

3. Australia

The unique nature and its purity are supported by both the citizens themselves and the government. The economy of Australia is considered one of the richest in the world, therefore, to finance various environmental projects huge funds are allocated. It is not for nothing that the country is called the green continent, where deforestation is under state control and is prohibited in many regions. The movement by car is also limited here, so the population actively uses bicycles and walks a lot.

4. Singapore

The former leader of the country, Lee Kuan Yew, was engaged not only in technological, scientific, economic and political development states. Special attention Since its inception after the Second World War, it has been devoted to keeping the streets, waters, and air clean. Fines for abandoned garbage, environmental pollution were huge and remain so now. Therefore, Singapore is included in the TOP of the cleanest countries in the world.

5. Costa Rica

It was possible to get a clean environment thanks to the preservation of a large number of forests, the purification of reservoirs, sand and coastal areas. Eco-tourism is actively developing, aimed at reducing the level of carbon emissions.

6. Czech Republic

It is distinguished by a high level of environmental standards that allow the Czech Republic to develop ecotourism, eco-excursions, which will soon become one of the branches of the economy. Keeping the streets clean allows the mentality of the locals. It is also important that the entire industry is trying to maintain cleanliness in production processes.

7. Germany

The environmental legislation of this country is one of the most modern and perfect in the world. In addition, the Germans are trying to use bicycles more, refusing cars. Air and water are clean, but at the same time there is a large concentration of industrial firms and companies, vehicles.

8. New Zealand

If not for the locals, tourists and industry, then one could take the North and South Islands that make up New Zealand as a real paradise on Earth. The number of places where no human foot has yet set foot is enormous. Therefore, forests, mountains, plateaus, beaches and lowlands retain their original appearance.

9. Japan

The average life expectancy in the country is 82 years, which has been achieved modern technologies to purify water and air, reduce the level of application chemical substances. But the number in coastal ocean waters is gradually depleted, and the consequences of the Fukushima accident in 2011 still have a strong impact on the environment and the state of the air.

10. Spain

The hot temperament of the Spaniards is not reflected in the love of cleanliness and accuracy. In public places it is always perfectly clean, calm, there are pots of flowers and decorative trees on the streets. The government allocates huge finances to purify water, create windmills, and develop environmental projects.

11. Austria

Minimum crime rate calm atmosphere, clean air, a large number of cyclists - that's what makes Austria able to enter the ranking of environmentally friendly countries in the world. Of key importance is the fact that the country has abandoned large industrial enterprises, which allows you to keep forests, rivers and mountains unpolluted.

12. Croatia

Many rivers, mountains, plains make a country great place for recreation, life and tourism. Croatia aims to clean up the Danube, Sava, Drava, Mura rivers from pollution associated with industrial production and the consequences of hostilities in the first half of the 1990s. Green and ecological tourism is actively developing, the number of national parks and protected areas is one of the largest in the world.

13. Sweden

Nature, water and air quality are impeccable, but the presence of mines, factories, small plants forces the government to spend money on the construction of modern purification facilities and filters.

Industrial production is the main source of financing the economy, since tourism, especially ecological tourism, will not soon become the main sources of budget financing. But in many ways, Sweden wins - the use of alternative energy sources, the construction of windmills, the reduction in the number of road transport.

14. Norway

successful and beautiful country, clean, calm, economically developed, where citizens are unusually friendly. There are high fines for pollution and garbage on the streets. But the industry, especially the oil industry, does not allow Norway to compete with Switzerland and Luxembourg.

15. Israel

European countries should learn from Israel about cleanliness, a reverent attitude towards green spaces, maintaining the life of every flower and tree. There are very few forests in the country, which is not surprising in such an arid climate, but their cutting is strictly prohibited. It is the duty of every inhabitant of the country to water plants near houses and in public places, as well as to create comfortable conditions for own life. A huge problem for Israel for many years has been pesticides.

The current environmental situation in the world leaves much to be desired. First of all, it concerns major metropolitan areas with a multi-million population and developed industry. In the article we will tell you about the cleanest cities in the world. However, we warn you: after reading this material, you will probably want to change the place of your permanent residence.

Ideal city: what should it be?

Beauty will save the world - says the well-known saying. But cleanliness will make it even more beautiful. Living in the cleanest city in the world is both pleasant and honorable. After all, walking along well-groomed green streets is much better than inhaling tons of exhaust gases and dust. In addition, the health of the citizens themselves largely depends on the purity of the air and the quality of the water.

It is important to note that a clean city is not just a settlement with green spaces, a well-functioning street cleaning system and well-groomed building facades. Indeed, in our time, the factor of environmental protection comes to the fore, namely - atmospheric air, soil and water.

Proceeding from this, an environmentally friendly city is a settlement where, first of all, emissions into the atmosphere are monitored, industrial and municipal wastewater is qualitatively cleaned, and Newest technologies waste recycling, etc. Let's list the most significant criteria such a city. This is:

Availability and quality of drinking water.
Emphasis on the use of renewable energy sources.
The presence of a clear mechanism for sorting and processing garbage and household waste.
Purity of atmospheric air and soil cover.
Condition and reliability of sewer systems.
Well-functioning urban transport.
The level of development of cycling infrastructure.

The title of “cleanest” is most often claimed by American, Canadian, Australian and, of course, European cities. What are these settlements - read on.

Environmentally friendly cities: top 10

In early 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked the cleanest cities in the world. It was published in the famous British newspaper The Telegraph. Six European cities appeared in the top ten of this rating at once. In its formation, experts were based on indicators of atmospheric air pollution.

The "top" list of clean cities in the world looks like this:

Stockholm, Sweden).
Wellington (New Zealand).
Canberra (Australia).
Ottawa (Canada).
Edinburgh (Scotland).
Montevideo (Uruguay).
Tallinn (Estonia).
Helsinki (Finland).
Monaco (Principality of Monaco).
Madrid, Spain).

The dirtiest cities in the world, according to the WHO rating, were recognized as the largest Asian capitals: New Delhi, Doha and Riyadh.

Stockholm is the cleanest city in the world

The Swedish capital is considered one of the greenest in Europe. Approximately one third of the city area is occupied by green spaces - parks, squares, gardens and other tree plantations. In addition, Stockholm is famous for its household waste disposal system. In particular, biofuels are produced from them.

City cuts emissions every year greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (since 1990, total emissions have been reduced by a quarter). The local authorities of Stockholm care not only about the purity of the air. The city has an excellent public transport system. Plus, Stockholm boasts excellent cycling infrastructure. There are about a hundred bike rental stations in the city at all times.

Wellington

Wellington is the second cleanest city in the world according to the World Health Organization. The capital of New Zealand, thanks to its ideal cleanliness, favorable environmental situation, beautiful natural landscapes and an abundance of architectural attractions, attracts a huge number of tourists (about 3.5 million a year).

In terms of air quality, energy savings, and the complexity of waste recycling, Wellington occupies one of the first positions in the world. Well-groomed streets, an abundance of green areas and beaches make this city one of the most attractive places for people to live.

Copenhagen

It is impossible not to mention in our article the Danish capital. Copenhagen is the most bike-friendly city in Europe. Every second of its inhabitants regularly travels precisely on a two-wheeled vehicle. Thanks to this, Copenhagen is famous for its unusually low carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere.

Another "feature" of this city is the construction of energy-saving residential buildings. Local authorities strongly encourage residents to install high-quality windows and modern systems heating. Much attention is also paid to the development of wind energy. Among other things, Copenhagen leads in Europe in terms of the number of so-called "green" (environmentally friendly) hotels.

Helsinki

One of the friendliest, safest and cleanest capitals in the world is Helsinki. It is the most important scientific, cultural and Education Centre in Northern Europe. The city of Helsinki itself is located on more than 300 islands. Its inhabitants, as true representatives of Scandinavia, are also very fond of cycling or walking.

The city of Helsinki has an effective protection program natural environment and natural resources. Waste recycling is organized here high level. The plans of local authorities include the construction of a complex of wind farms that could fully meet the needs of the Finnish capital in electricity.

Calgary

Canadians are world-famous guardians of purity and fighters for healthy lifestyle life. The environmental situation in this country is closely monitored in all cities. Separately, it is worth talking about Calgary and Vancouver.

The city of Calgary is located in southwestern Canada, within the province of Alberta. He was incredibly lucky with the landscapes: immediately beyond his line - hayfields and foothills of the picturesque Rocky Mountains. There are many green areas in Calgary, in particular, Knows Hill is Canada's largest urban park.

In 2010, Calgary was named the cleanest city in the world by Mercer Human. In particular, the almost complete absence of transport problems in the metropolis with a population of about 1.2 million people was noted. The most surprising thing is that a large number of "dirty" mining and processing enterprises are concentrated in the city of Calgary. natural gas. But thanks to an effective environmental program, the authorities managed to protect its inhabitants from harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

Calgary has very high pollution fines. So, a cigarette butt thrown on the lawn can cost the offender one thousand dollars.

Vancouver

Vancouver is another Canadian city that cares about the environment. It meets over 90% of its electricity needs from hydroelectric power plants. Vancouver has set itself the ambitious goal of becoming the most green city in the world. To achieve this noble goal, a special GCAT structure was even created. Every year the number of electric vehicles increases in the city, the quality of drinking water improves, and a huge number of young trees are planted.

Kobe

The Japanese approach any issue with all seriousness and scrupulousness. Including environmental issues. Kobe city - large industrial centre and an important trading port in Japan. One of the most efficient sewage treatment systems in the world is successfully operating here. City authorities are investing heavily in the development of public transport, encouraging the purchase of hybrid cars. The result of all these actions is clean water and clean air, despite the abundance of industrial enterprises located in Kobe.

Minneapolis

Next in line is the American city of Minneapolis, the largest in the state of Minnesota. It is located on the banks of the Mississippi River, sacred to all Americans. Minneapolis is famous for its large number of recycling facilities. Almost everything is processed here - from plastic bottles to batteries and lamps. The city regularly implements various environmental programs, develops and popularizes cycling.

Amatciems

And again we come back to Europe, to be exact - to Latvia. Here, in the vicinity of Cēsis, there is a unique town with an area of 300 hectares. It was founded by a Latvian millionaire obsessed with the ideas of a clean ecological environment.

On the territory of Amatciems there are three hundred wooden houses. Each household is assigned a small plot of land with a lake and a forest. Each of the houses is heated with a special geothermal pump that converts internal energy Earth in thermal.

The town was built in a hilly area, due to which absolutely nothing is visible from the windows of one house, except for the greenery of the surrounding meadows and forests. There are no fences or barriers here. Therefore, roe deer and other forest animals often enter the city. By the way, many architects have already called Amatciems the city of the future.

The cleanest and dirtiest cities in Russia

Ministry of Natural Resources together with the All-Russian popular front determined the most clean cities Russia (based on the environmental situation). The rating was compiled in November 2017. Three cities became its leaders: Naberezhnye Chelny (first place), Kazan and Voronezh.

The assessment was carried out simultaneously on several indicators. In particular, they took into account the quality of drinking water, the volume of energy consumption, as well as work in the field of environmental protection. In total, 103 settlements with a population of over 100,000 inhabitants were assessed.

Moscow in this ranking took only 16th place, St. Petersburg - 26th. Among the dirtiest cities in Russia were Blagoveshchensk, Kaliningrad, Cherepovets, Ivanovo and Magnitogorsk. By the way, local authorities these settlements did not provide the necessary information to the department in full. In this regard, ministry experts suggest that the real ecological situation in the above cities it can be even worse.