Drought in Brazil World’s largest river basin resembles a desert: “Without water we are nobody”
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An extreme drought threatens the Amazon. The world’s largest river basin resembles a desert landscape in some parts. There is no end to the drought in sight.
The second largest tributary of the Amazon in Brazil has reached its lowest level since official measurements began 122 years ago due to extreme drought in the area. The water level of the Rio Negro river in the provincial capital of Manaus in the Brazilian state of Amazonas had a low of 12.66 meters, as the Brazilian Geological Survey (SGB) announced in mid-October. This is the lowest value since records began in 1902.
Parts of the river at the port of Manaus are dry due to the severe drought, as can be seen in pictures. According to the SGB’s forecasts, the level could continue to fall. The population on the river banks in particular is suffering. Many of them can usually only get around on the rivers by boat. Because of the low water level, boats have run aground, making it more difficult to supply the communities with water, food or medicine. “When my boat is on land here, I don’t earn any money,” says boat captain Raimundo Filho to the news portal “G1”.
Brazil: Worst drought since systematic measurements
In Brazil, where most of the Amazon region is located, more than a third of the national territory is affected by extreme drought, as the National Center for Natural Disaster Monitoring (Cemaden) recently reported. This is the most severe drought since systematic measurements began in 1950. According to experts, it is linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon and climate change.
The Amazon basin in Brazil is suffering from the worst drought in 120 years – that’s when water levels began to be recorded. The consequences for people, the regional economy and the flora and fauna in South America are serious.
© Aguilar Abecassis / DPA
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The past few years have been marked by extreme events in the Amazon region that are related to climate change, says the national coordinator of the SGB’s hydrological warning system, Artur Matos: “The years 2021 and 2022 were characterized by major floods, the years 2023 and 2024 by major droughts “This is an indication that extremes are becoming more and more common.”
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