The drought is shrinking the river that feeds the Amazon to the lowest level ever recorded

Salma October 5, 2024

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The drought is shrinking the river that feeds the Amazon to the lowest level ever recorded

One of the largest rivers in the Amazon River has dropped to the lowest level ever recorded, environmentalists in Brazil said on Friday, reflecting a severe drought that has devastated the Amazon rainforest and other parts of the country.

The level of the Negro River at the port of Manaus was 12.66 meters on Friday, compared to the normal level of 21 meters. The previous record low was recorded last year, but in late October.

This is what the Negro River in Manaus, Brazil, looked like on September 25 (top), compared to the same area months ago, on June 19. (Edmar Barros/The Associated Press)

The water level of the Negro River may drop even further in the coming weeks based on forecasts of low rainfall in the upstream areas, according to geological service forecasts. Andre Martinelli, who is the hydrology manager of this center in Manaus, was quoted as saying that the river is expected to continue to decrease until the end of the month.

A composite image shows two aerial photographs of the same area. The photo below shows a bridge over a full river. The top photo shows the same area, but the bridge is mostly above ground, the river has shrunk into a thin ribbon. — Some rivers are suffering from drought. In this Manaus composite image, the section of the Sao Raimundo River that connects to the Negro River is visible on September 25 (top) and in the same area on June 20. (Edmar Barros/The Associated Press)

Water levels in the Brazilian Amazon regularly rise and fall during its rainy and dry seasons, but this year’s dry spell has been worse than usual. All major rivers in the Amazon region are at critical levels, including the Madeira River, the longest tributary of the Amazon River.

The Negro River drains about 10 percent of the Amazon River and is the sixth largest in the world by water volume. Manaus, the largest city in the rainforest, is where the Negro joins the Amazon River.