Europe’s continuing heatwaves and low water levels aren’t affecting only river traffic, although that continues to be a major concern. Shrinking water levels in major lakes are threatening both tourism and agriculture.
Italy’s Lake Garda, below, shows the effect of lower water levels than seen in many years, and while local tourism officials say that tourism activities are only affected by a switch in types of boats, area officials say that “the possibility of providing water for agriculture has dropped.”
Drying lakes and low waterfall are an issue in Switzerland as well; Lake Brenets, seen in the title photo, has almost completely dried. It sits on the French-Swiss border, and is actually an arm of the Doubs River.
In some areas, Swiss military helicopters have been flying tankfuls of water to cattle grazing in Alpine meadows that have now gone dry; in other areas, the cows have been moved to lower meadows that are usually grazed later in the season. Local officials say that this year’s production of Gruyere cheese has been especially hard hit.
