While a historic drought is hitting the whole of France, in certain regions of the Gorges du Verdon, the situation is critical. Water levels are at their lowest. ” Never seen. »
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It’s been going on for months already. In 2022, only June was not in deficit in precipitation. According to Weather report France, the period from April to July 2022 was even the second driest on record. Just behind 1976. The month of July 2022 promises to be the drier since 1959. With, between 1er and on July 25, no more than 8 millimeters of rain on average. The deficit is huge. And no less than 91 departments out of 96 are now subject to water use restrictions. A record!
When comparing the satellite image of France between last year at the same time (left) and this year (right), the effect of #drought is obvious. Yellow clearly dominates this year… pic.twitter.com/QvryQc22kW
— Guillaume Séchet (@Meteovilles) July 24, 2022
Drought in the Gorges du Verdon
gm everyone. It’s been too hot and dry all over Europe. This the famous “Gorges du Verdon” where we can see the impact of the extreme heat.
July 2022 vs September 2021 pic.twitter.com/oFYa9NVJns
— Fakeye (@liviofakeye) July 27, 2022
In the Verdon Gorge (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) — at least, in certain places –, for example, it is ” never seen “. On the side of Lake Sainte-Croix – the second largest lake in France – the water has receded from 80 to 100 meters. The level is at least 3 meters lower than its usual level. You can now walk to the island of Costebelle.
Lac de Sainte Croix…despite a lack of water and difficult access to certain places…the turquoise water is always a dream… pic.twitter.com/KDbyyVKG9F
— Bernard Photography (@Bernard94578732) July 22, 2022
Castillon Lake – between Castellane and Saint-André les Alpes – located 900 meters above sea level, upstream from the Grand Canyon, seems to be the most affected. With a level marked 5 meters below the usual level on the side of Saint-André les Alpes. There is not even 40 centimeters of depth left.
More and more tourist activities are prohibited. At Lake Castillon, in Saint-André les Alpes, for example, swimming and nautical activities are no longer authorized. Access to the Gorges du Verdon from Lake Sainte-Croix is closed.
The rest of the Alps also subject to drought
Beyond the Gorges du Verdon — even if the situation is still normal in the lower Verdon and in the lower gorges — it is almost all of the Alps who are affected. As on the side of the largest lake in France, the lake of Serre-Ponçon (Hautes-Alpes). Professionals refer to a level “historically low”.
In question, once again, the anthropic global warming which makes the drought episodes more frequent and intense.
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