In the middle of the clear blue waters of northern Italy’s Lake Garda, a group of people carefully walk in a row. They are barefoot and holding their shoes in their hands on their way to the small island of San Biagio. The island, which is located some distance from the mainland, is normally only accessible by boat – but after the water level has dropped drastically in recent months, it is now possible to get to San Biagio on foot.
A group of tourists walk from the mainland to the island of San Biagio in Lake Garda. Water levels in the Italian lake are extremely low.
The water level is the lowest measured in 70 years in the northern Italian lake, according to figures from the EU’s environmental monitoring program Copernicus, writes the news agency Ansa. The lake is Italy’s largest lake and one of the Lombardy region’s most popular tourist destinations – also one of its most important fresh water reservoirs.
But the lake is not the only one suffering from unusually low water levels, according to Lombardy regional leader Attilio Fontana. He points out that the levels in a number of the area’s water sources are close to half as low as they usually are.
“The situation is still difficult – and the lack of rainfall hardly helps,” says Fontana to Brescia Today.
Worst drought in 70 years
The situation in Lombardy is also far from unique in Italy. The extreme heat that swept across Europe last year led to the country suffering its worst drought in 70 years. Rivers and streams dried up – and during the summer the country’s longest river Po turned into a long stretch of sand.
After an extremely rain- and snow-poor winter, the approaching summer looks like it could be at least as dry. The river Po already has a water deficit of between 60 and 70 percent.
The lack of water also led the government of the city of Bolzano, located in the Trentino-South Tyrol region, in March to ban the production of artificial snow in the region’s many ski resorts, writes La Repubblica.
The level of the river Adige in the city of Trento in northern Italy is extremely low. You are advised to shower
Rainfall in Trentino-Alto Adige has been well below average for the past 1.5 years, which has led to water levels in the Adige River, Italy’s second longest, being well below normal.
The president of the region, Arno Kompatscher, appeals to the residents to save water and use it in a “frugal, sustainable and efficient way”. Among other things, they are asked to wait to turn on dishwashers and washing machines until they are fully charged – and to stand in the shower instead of taking a bath.
Earlier this year, the tourist magnet Venice also raised the alarm about unusually low water levels. The lack of rain meant that gondolas, water taxis and ambulances found it difficult to navigate several of the city’s canals, especially during low tide.