28
●
Chapter 2
tourists and local residents are attracted to
our waterforms — even for their beauty.
Popular activities could be boating, water-
skiing, fishing, swimming, scuba diving,
wind surfing, and ice-skating.
All of our fresh water is a renewable
resource. That is why it is important to keep
it clean. The water is renewed by means of
the
water cycle
. The cycle happens in the
followingway.Water evaporates into the air.
It forms clouds that rise.Water droplets form
and fall to the earth.
ThreeMile Island
Nuclear power plants create
electricity using dangerous
materials. If people are
exposed to thesematerials,
they can be injured. OnMarch
28, 1979, due to technical
problems and human error,
ThreeMile IslandNuclear
Power Plant had the nation’s
worst nuclear accident.
Radioactive steamwas leaked
into the air. Thousands of
residents evacuated the area.
But through quick action and a
plant safety system that worked, no one was injured. New safety controls now exist at
all of our nuclear power plants to avoid future accidents andmake nuclear power safe.
ReviewQuestions
1. Name five different kinds of waterforms we have in Pennsylvania.
2. Name our threemain river systems.
3.What is the difference between run-off water and groundwater?
4.What arewetlands?
5. Name at least three large reservoirs. Tell where each one is located.
6. Name at least threemain uses for our waterforms.
7.What is thedifference inhow electricity is createdwithnuclear fuel andhydropower?
