The world’s most water-rich region is experiencing its worst drought since records began more than 120 years ago. The impact on the people, the regional economy and the flora and fauna of South America is devastating. Experts are on high alert. There are no signs of the situation easing.
The levels of some of the most important rivers have fallen to an unprecedented extent. This has led to supply problems and the deaths of countless animals.
The Brazilian Amazon stretches across nine states and is the size of Western Europe. It is home to a breathtaking variety of plants and animals. About a fifth of the planet’s fresh water flows through the world’s largest and most complex network of rivers.
Lowest water level since the start of measurements
The state of Amazonas is particularly affected by the current drought. The Rio Negro, the Amazon’s second-largest tributary, reached its lowest level (12.7 meters) since official measurements began in late October near the provincial capital of Manaus.
The population on the river banks in particular suffers from this
Many of the people who live there can usually only get around by boat. However, the low water level caused numerous boats to run aground. This makes it increasingly difficult to provide communities with water, food or medicine.
The situation is exacerbated by El Niño
The weather phenomenon, which occurs every few years, causes more drought and heat in the north of Brazil, among other places, and is expected to last until April next year. Weather events such as heat waves, droughts, forest fires, heavy rainfall, floods and floods will therefore become even more severe in some regions.
The largest rainforest in the world, home to ten percent of all species in the world, has been threatened for decades: by droughts, river pollution, fires and deforestation.
Although deforestation has declined since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva came to power early this year, Brazil is still far from achieving its stated goal of ‘zero deforestation’. As recently as October, the megacity of Manaus was shrouded in thick smoke for days – due to illegal farming and drought.
22,000 fires in October alone
Mariana Napolitano from the environmental organization WWF: “In the Amazon, fires are usually related to deforestation. Damp, well-preserved forests don’t just burn.” According to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), there were more than 22,000 fires in October alone – the highest number for this month in the past 15 years.
The interaction between climate change, El Niño and increasing deforestation leads to a negative spiral of worsening droughts and fires.
The Amazonas state government has declared a state of emergency in all 62 districts, affecting nearly 600,000 people.
Source: Krone
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