In the world of river transport, the rock of Lorelei is sadly famous. Located in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, this rock marks the location of the narrowest stretch of the Rhine, where shipping accidents regularly occur. But this summer, the passage has become even more complicated than normal.
“The water level has not exceeded 1 meter since mid-July. Thursday [4 août]there were only 55 centimeters left, secures Zurich title The New Zurich Times. The water level is dangerously approaching the 40 centimeter threshold, below which the transport of large volumes becomes almost impossible.
The situation of the rock of Lorelei is emblematic of a broader phenomenon, linked to the summer drought and the lack of alpine snow at the sources of the river. “The water level has already fallen below 1 meter in several places, while the Rhine is on average 2 meters deep at this time of year”, related to daily News from Germany. There is today “barely more water than three years ago”when the river had reached its lowest level ever recorded.