Brazil Faces Record Drought Impacting Amazon Rivers

Brazil is facing its worst drought since 1950, severely impacting the Amazon River and its tributaries, particularly the Rio Negro and the Solimões, which have reached record low water levels. Nearly 60% of the country is affected, with villages along these rivers isolated from food, water, and transportation as boats become stranded on newly exposed riverbeds. The Solimões River's depth has dropped to just 3 meters, while the Rio Negro experiences a decline of about 7 inches per day, raising alarms for the local ecosystem and its biodiversity. Furthermore, Lake Tefé has significantly shrunk, threatening local wildlife such as dolphins, which faced mass deaths last year due to similar conditions. Experts attribute these severe drought conditions to climate change, which is also causing unprecedented wildfires in the region. With another month before the rainy season, the situation is expected to worsen, prompting urgent calls for action to support affected communities.