The Pearl River estuary in south China has been tormented by a grave salt tide under the spell of negative factors such as less rainfall in the river's drainage area.

 

The salt tide, which began affecting the estuary on Tuesday, will last till next Wednesday, according to the Guangdong Provincial Astronomers Society.

 

Specialists with organization blamed less rainfall in the drainage area of the Pearl River and the effect of a powerful tidal wave caused by an astronomical phenomenon that the sun, the earth and the moon will be in a line on Dec. 31 for the invasion of the salt tide.

 

It is believed that the adverse impact of the salt tide on drinking water in the densely populated Pearl River Delta where major cities such as Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Panyu, Dongguan and Shunde are located, will be limited.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2005)