Severe Drought Brings Amazon River Tributary to Record Low in Over 122 Years

Brazil's geological service reported on Friday that one of the main tributaries of the Amazon River, the Negro River, has dropped to its lowest level in over 122 years, highlighting the devastating impact of a severe drought in the Amazon rainforest and other parts of Brazil. The river, which flows past the major city of Manaus, measured 12.66 meters on Friday, significantly below its usual level of around 21 meters. This is the lowest recorded since monitoring began, surpassing the previous record set in October of last year.

The water level is expected to continue declining due to forecasts of little rainfall in upstream regions, according to André Martinelli, the hydrology manager for Brazil's geological service in Manaus. He noted that the river's level might drop further by the end of the month.

Seasonal variations in water levels are typical for the Amazon basin, with fluctuations corresponding to rainy and dry seasons. However, this year's dry season has been much more severe than usual, with all major rivers in the region, including the Madeira River, at critical lows. The Negro River, which drains about 10% of the Amazon basin and is the world's sixth-largest by water volume, plays a crucial role in the ecosystem.

For locals, the effects of the drought have been disruptive. Gracita Barbosa, a 28-year-old cashier at a floating shop on the Negro River, is unable to work because boats that once docked there can no longer navigate the shallow waters. She also can no longer bathe in the river and now has to travel longer distances to collect drinking water.