Drought has sent a Rhine River chokepoint to a historic low for this time of year and threatens shipping of critical fuel supplies (2024)

FAQs

Is the Rhine river affected by drought? ›

In this note, we assess the impact of low water levels on the Rhine on Dutch inland water freight transport volumes and Dutch industrial production. We show that disruptions to the river level caused by drought have a significant impact on the volume of freight that is transported along the river in the Netherlands.

Europe's rivers are running dry, spelling trouble not only for industries that rely on them to move cargo but also for the EU's climate ambitions.

High water levels are usually caused by snow melting in the Alps and heavy rains in the spring and early summer. On the flipside, droughts and extreme heat waves -- which have both become more common in Western Europe over the last three decades -- causes the water level of the Rhine river to drop.

Can Cruises Still Sail When Water Levels on the Rhine Are Low? River cruise ships have very shallow draughts, which generally enable them to sail even when water levels are low or when there is a drought. In fact, river ships can often continue cruising the Rhine even when heavy commercial barges have to stop.

This is not the first time in recent history that the Rhine River has faced low water levels. From mid-April 2021, water levels of the Rhine River began to drop to critical levels, disrupting shipping operations on the stretch from Koblenz to Rotterdam.

Many of the great rivers of the world, like the Colorado River in the western United States, the Yellow River in China, and the Nile River in Africa are experiencing significant reductions in flow. For communities that depend on these rivers, the results could be devastating.

Sarno River, Italy

The Sarno holds the distinction of possibly being Europe's most polluted river. Despite its source being clean and fit for drinking, unchecked dumping of agricultural, human, and industrial waste has contaminated the Sarno.

Laying low: The Loire in France has almost disappeared in places. Out on a limb: The Rhine is a popular river cruise, but its future is now in doubt.

Rhine river shipping stopped around Maxau and Mannheim in south Germany, the German inland waterways navigation agency WSA said. The high levels of water leave vessels insufficient overhead space to sail under bridges, and prevents vessels sailing to Switzerland.

What are the best months to take a Rhine River cruise? ›

April to December

Another European classic, the Rhine is a great year-round cruising destination. For the best weather, we recommend taking a Rhine river cruise during the summer months, particularly in May or June when the weather is favourable but there aren't the summer crowds.

One example was the winter of 1962/1963, which went down in history as the coldest winter of the last century with an average of minus four degrees Celsius in NRW. In 1929, it was also so cold that a thick layer of ice formed on the Rhine and many people went out on the river (as can be seen in our historical photo).

The high levels of water leave vessels insufficient overhead space to sail under bridges, and prevents vessels sailing to Switzerland.

The Colorado River is drying up due to a combination of chronic overuse of water resources and a historic drought. The dry period has lasted more than two decades, spurred by a warming climate primarily due to humans burning fossil fuels.

The source of the river is generally considered north of Lai da Tuma/Tomasee on Rein Anteriur/Vorderrhein, although its southern tributary Rein da Medel is actually longer before its confluence with the Anterior Rhine near Disentis.

Only in eastern Saxony, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are there still individual regions where dry soils are being recorded, which is due to a decreasing rain surplus towards the east.