Record Low Water Levels Hit Poland's Vistula River Amid Severe Drought

Poland's longest river, the Vistula, has plunged to a record low, exposing sandbanks and allowing wildlife to cross its shallow waters. This drop coincides with the hottest summer on record in the northern hemisphere. Experts attribute the low levels to high temperatures, lack of rainfall, and warm winters.

Poland's Vistula River has reached a historic low, exposing sandbanks and creating shallow waters that even moose can easily traverse. This was confirmed by the meteorological office, shedding light on the extreme weather conditions this year.

According to the European Union's climate change monitoring service, the northern hemisphere experienced its hottest summer since records began. In Warsaw, water levels measured a mere 22 cm, compared to a normal range of 105-250 cm. The lack of rainfall, coupled with high temperatures and warm winters, has prevented the usual replenishment of surface and groundwater resources, explained IMGW spokesperson Grzegorz Walijewski.

Polsat News reporters captured footage of a moose walking across an exceedingly shallow stretch of the river near Radwankow, about 60 km from Warsaw, highlighting the severity of the situation. While historically low water levels had posed issues for power generation in 2015, improvements in renewable energy and infrastructure have mitigated such risks, assured a spokesperson for power grid operator PSE.

(With inputs from agencies.)