There is currently a severe drought in several parts of Europe and scientists warn that it could be the worst in 500 years.
The water level in several of the continent’s largest waterways is unusually low – the Danube, Lake Garda in Italy and the Loire River in France. In Germany, barges can no longer ply parts of the Rhine because the water is too shallow.
Nuclear power plants are affected
In Great Britain, tributaries to the Thames have dried up and the Environment Agency has declared a formal drought in large parts of England. In France, nuclear power plants have also scaled back production when the cooling water became too hot.
The consequences are great when agricultural land cannot be irrigated and transport stops.
– There can be problems with drinking water too, says environmental and climate researcher Johanna Alkan Olsson.
Hear more about the situation – in the player above