Water levels on the Rhine hit a historic low on Saturday, with the gauge in Cologne measuring 68 centimeters, one centimeter below the previous record set in October 2018, according to the Rhine Waterways and Shipping Authority.
Footage from Cologne’s Rheinauhafen marina showed boats stranded in the shallow water as residents walked and cycled along the dry riverbank, some stopping to take photos.
Germany’s major waterways, including the Elbe and Danube, are also running low. With no relief from the heat and drought in sight, officials warn of mounting economic consequences for shipping and river-dependent industries.