Record heat in Europe has caused the water level in the Danube to…

Record heat in Europe has caused the water level in the Danube to drop to its lowest levels in 30 years.

Consensus

Record heat and prolonged drought have led to critical depletion of major European rivers, including the Danube and Rhine.
The water levels in the Danube and Rhine have reached historic lows.
The drying of riverbeds has revealed sunken ships from World War II.
The depletion has disrupted river navigation and caused economic losses.
The reduced water levels have affected the operation of nuclear and hydroelectric power plants in several countries.
In Bulgaria, mammoth bones were discovered on the exposed riverbed of the Danube.

In Serbia, near the town of Pragovo, German military ships from 1944 were revealed; experts estimate around 200 such ships may lie on the Danube's bed, some still containing explosives. — fontanka
In Budapest, near the Margit Bridge, a WWII bomb was exposed due to riverbed exposure, leading to temporary closure of the crossing. — fontanka
In southern Slovakia near Komarno, a British anti-ship bomb was found on 2 August. — fontanka
The reduction in water levels has caused a 30% decrease in hydroelectric power generation in Austria and a 90% reduction in the cooling capacity of Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant. — fontanka
Romania shut down one reactor at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant and conducted an underwater explosion to increase water flow. — fontanka
Serbia warned of possible complete halt of Danube navigation. — fontanka
The drying of Lake Ladoga in Russia is attributed to an unusual winter with early snowfall and no thaws, preventing snow compaction. — fontanka
The Danube's water level has dropped to its lowest in 30 years. — meduza
Experts estimate around 200 vessels, including tugs and barges, lie on the Danube bed. — meduza
The European Union launched a project in 2024 to clear the Danube of debris, scheduled to end in 2028. — meduza