In the midst of the holiday season, tourists are now receiving a serious warning from the authorities: Given the low water levels, an ill-considered (head) jump into the cool water sometimes carries a serious risk of injury. The popular Lake Garda in Italy is especially affected at the moment. But you also have to be careful on the local waters.
“Do not jump into Lake Garda,” Pierlucido Ceresa, president of the Association of Municipalities of Lake Garda, urged the German newspaper Bild. The water is currently so low that you could easily bump your head. The reason for this is the prolonged extreme drought. As reported, a state of emergency has already been declared in several regions.
Lake Neusiedler particularly shallow
In this country too, the heat and the associated water scarcity and evaporation have consequences for the water levels in the swimming lakes. For example, the Neusiedler See in Burgenland. This is currently as shallow as it hasn’t been in a long time. The water level is currently 115 meters above the Adriatic – and thus only four centimeters above the historic low of 2003. The highly sensitive ecosystem now needs to be safeguarded in the long term. As a first measure, workers in the Rust Bay are removing excess mud.
Caution is also advised in Austria
In view of the low water level, extreme caution is also required when bathing. It was not until mid-May that a fatal accident occurred in the steppe lake in Burgenland: a Viennese student (17) had made a head in the water, which was only 90 centimeters deep. The teen was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
In general, you should therefore be careful when jumping in cold water. Even on familiar waters, it’s a good idea to consider a potentially shallower water depth before jumping in.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
