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Lost income, energy fears and a woolly mammoth: what Europe’s dried-up rivers have yielded
The Guardian • • world
Key Points:
- Extreme drought and high temperatures have caused record low water levels on the Danube and Rhine rivers, severely impacting shipping, energy production, and tourism across central and eastern Europe.
- Hungary and Romania have shut down nuclear reactors cooled by the Danube for the first time, with Hungary’s Paks plant operating below 50% capacity and expected to fully shut down, risking an energy crisis.
- Authorities in Hungary and Romania are urging citizens to reduce energy consumption, especially during peak evening hours, while industrial power and water use cuts have been mandated.
- The low Danube water levels have revealed historical artifacts, including a WWII bomb and ancient woolly mammoth remains, and have forced cruise cancellations and cargo delays along the river.
- The Rhine River in Germany and the Netherlands has also reached near-record lows, causing significant cargo reductions and raising concerns about supply chain disruptions in Europe’s largest economy.
