This dire situation is causing significant disruptions as cargo ships find themselves stranded at a key river port in the state of Amazonas, cutting off crucial supplies to remote villages in the region.
Severe drought conditions have brought the Amazon River, a vital lifeline in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, to a historic crisis, resulting in a 121-year low water level
Aerial footage captured by drones vividly depicts the crisis near Manaus, the state’s capital. Vessels are marooned in the desiccated riverbed, with trucks venturing onto parched the Amazon River floor to salvage goods from the stranded boats. The prolonged drought is also believed to have contributed to the tragic death of 120 rare Amazon River dolphins.
On Monday, the Amazon River hit a record low of 13.59 meters at the Manaus port, marking the lowest measurement in over 120 years and surpassing the previous all-time low set in 2010 at 13.63 meters. To ameliorate these drought conditions, substantial rainfall is desperately needed throughout the expansive Amazon River Basin. The Amazon River, along with its rainforest and seasonal floodplains, typically experiences fluctuations of up to 39 feet annually with tropical rains. However, the region has seen an alarming lack of precipitation, with Manaus receiving just one day of rain in the entirety of August. Over the past six months, areas within the Amazon River Basin have experienced rainfall totals up to 16 inches below average.
The Brazilian non-governmental organization Fundacao Amazonia Sustentavel has taken action by providing vital resources to communities cut off from assistance due to the drought.
These critically low water levels are not only hindering cargo ship navigation on the Amazon River but are also severing crucial supply lines for remote communities, impacting their access to water, food, and fuel, typically delivered via river transport.
Reports from Reuters indicate that this drought has adversely affected 481,000 people in Amazonas. In response to this crisis, the Brazilian NGO Fundacao Amazonia Sustentavel has stepped in, delivering essential supplies to communities isolated by the drought. Furthermore, this environmental catastrophe is intrinsically tied to the persistent El Niño climate pattern, which continues to influence extreme weather conditions globally, resulting in record-high temperatures and exacerbating Amazon rainforest fires. Throughout the first half of 2023, an alarming 3.6 million acres of the Amazon rainforest have succumbed to flames, as reported by The Rainforest Foundation.
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