Europe’s hot and dry summer has caused rivers to shrink to record-low levels, revealing amazing discoveries that had been hidden underwater for many years. Along the Danube River in Bulgaria, experts found what they believe are the remains of an ancient mammoth. The discovery includes a lower jaw, two tusks and possibly a rib, and scientists will study the bones to confirm how old they are.
The low water has also uncovered other surprising finds along the Danube, which flows through 10 countries. In Croatia, the skeleton of a cargo ship called the Fulton has appeared after being hidden since it sank while carrying coal in 1937. In Serbia, the remains of a Nazi warship from World War Two have also been revealed as the river dropped to unusually low levels.
The heat has caused more than just exciting discoveries. River levels are so low that ships have had to carry smaller loads to avoid getting stuck, making transport slower and more expensive. Some river cruises have been cancelled or changed, and a cruise ship recently ran aground on a sandbank in Bulgaria. Hungary is even preparing to temporarily shut down a nuclear power station because it uses water from the Danube to keep its reactors cool.
Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves and droughts stronger and more common. They warn that unless the world reduces the use of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, summers like this could happen more often, bringing even greater challenges for people, rivers and wildlife.
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