Amazon Drought

• 18 Sep 2024

In September, 2024, according to a study, the Amazon basin is experiencing its worst drought on record, with rivers falling to unprecedented levels, drying up entire riverbeds, and threatening wildlife and ecosystems.

Key Points

• Dried-Up Rivers: The Solimoes River, a major Amazon tributary, has dropped to its lowest recorded level in Tabatinga, Brazil.
• Impact on Wildlife: Lake Tefé, home to endangered pink dolphins, has dried up, depriving them of critical habitat.
• Ongoing Crisis: This is the second consecutive year of severe drought, parching vegetation and triggering widespread wildfires across Brazil.
• Climate Change Warning: Greenpeace warns that climate change is now an immediate threat, arriving with more intensity than expected.
• Record-Low River Levels: The Solimoes River in Tabatinga is 4.25 meters below average for September, while in Tefé, it is 2.92 meters lower than last year.
• Manaus at Risk: In Manaus, where the Solimoes meets the Rio Negro, water levels are nearing last year’s record lows.
• Indigenous Communities: Indigenous leaders highlight the worsening drought, with conditions deteriorating earlier this year compared to 2023.