Amid Drought, Hundreds of French Rivers Are Drying Up
An ongoing drought in Europe has sapped French rivers. Officials say that 43 percent of small waterways in France have been partially or completely dried up. Read more on E360 →
A severe drought across Europe has left hundreds of French rivers dried up, officials warn. A staggering 43 percent of small waterways in France - over 1,300 of them - have either partially or completely ceased flowing, according to an analysis from the French Office for Biodiversity. Rivers across every region are parched, the agency describes the situation as "the most critical ever observed at this time of year."
Even large waterways have been affected; on the Loire, typically receding in summer, boat travel has been suspended a month ahead of schedule due to dwindling water levels. In Paris, the Seine river draws its sustenance from reservoirs that stored excess winter snowmelt. Elsewhere in Europe, meager rainfall has exacerbated the crisis, threatening the water supply for homes, agriculture, and energy generation.
On the Danube, reduced water levels have revealed hidden Nazi shipwrecks while forcing the shutdown of several nuclear reactors reliant on the river for cooling. The Rhine river hit a record low, just 10 inches deep in the German city of Kaub, severely hampering inland shipping. The drought's impact extends to the U.K., with officials reporting that nearly a quarter of English rivers are now "exceptionally low."
Scientists attribute the drought to warming, which speeds evaporation and further depletes already stressed rivers.
Written by urgent.news from Yale Environment 360's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
