In the midst of the holiday season, current drone footage shows how dramatically the record drought is affecting majestic Lake Garda and how rapidly the water level is falling. Huge sandbanks and rock formations are now visible, boats are stranded. The holiday paradise Sirmione is particularly affected, where people speak of the worst crisis in 60 years. At the same time, a dispute is raging over Italy’s largest water reservoir, which is being pumped out without interruption – the background is complicated.
“We need to protect our shipping and fisheries, while at the same time ensuring that the farmers around the lake can still irrigate their crops in August,” said Pierlucio Ceresa, head of Garda’s municipal association. Around the lake, nothing is more anticipated than rain – but it is scarce and barely visible for the next few days. The water level is currently one meter below normal, around the Sirmione peninsula the water has receded so far that completely new beach sections have been created, on which tourists now scurry. If it continues like this, it will soon reach its historic low.
For comparison: the Sirmione peninsula then and now
Due to the drought, the water is being pumped away
With a capacity of 50 cubic kilometers, Lake Garda is Italy’s largest water reservoir – and that’s its bad luck too. Due to the enormous drought, the water has been pumped out without interruption for weeks in order to irrigate and, above all, save the fields in the Po Valley. The water masses are drained through the locks of Peschiera del Garda via the tributary Mincio to the Po, which in turn is the lifeline for the whole region.
Because there is no precipitation there either, the authorities have increased the outflow from Lake Garda by 30 cubic meters per second. The level drops quickly and leads to such disturbing images that are impressive to see from the perspective of a drone.
Prolonged dispute with the regulatory authority
The situation is always disastrous for the thriving tourism on Lake Garda, which is also highly valued by the Austrians. There are now 24 million overnight stays per year and people come from all over the world. In Sirmione there are about 8000 inhabitants with about 1.5 million overnight stays per year. Neighboring communities and tourism professionals have therefore been in constant dispute with the national regulator for weeks, and desperate calls are now being made to save the lake.
„After the Po, Lake Garda also gets sick”
In Sirmione, the locals fought fierce battles with the officials: “The only thing we can achieve with this measure is that after the Po Lake Garda will also get sick”, Ceresa annoyed the Italian media. The regulatory body demands cooperation and solidarity from the people, but that has long since come to an end.
There are already reports of a “water war” and the fronts are hardened. What now unites the two sides is the daily look at the sky: “Caro Dio, fai piovere per favore” – “Dear God, please let it rain”.
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.
