Europe removes record 603 dams in 2025 to restore river ecosystems
By
Radina Gigova
3d ago· 12 min readenNews
95/100
Golden Brown
Bagelometer↗
A baker's-dozen of insight crammed into one ring.
Score95TypenewsSentimentpositive
Summary
Europe removed a record 603 dams and barriers across 21 countries in 2025, reconnecting thousands of kilometers of rivers. The article focuses on the environmental and ecological benefits of dam removal, using the Hiitolanjoki river in Finland as a case study. It explores how dam removal restores natural river flow, improves water quality, and allows migratory fish species like salmon to return to their spawning grounds. The piece is part of CNN's Call to Earth editorial series in partnership with Rolex's Perpetual Planet Initiative, highlighting global efforts to reverse river fragmentation and promote sustainability.
Key quotes
· 2 pulledThe river arrived almost immediately.
As the dams on the Hiitolanjoki in Finland came down, it began to change — the water quickened and cooled, sounding less like a reservoir and more like a river again.
Europe removed a record 603 dams and barriers across 21 countries in 2025, reconnecting thousands of kilometers of rivers — and the species that live in them.
