After it ensured prosperity for millions of people and constituted tributaries to the economies of countries, the rivers of Europe are currently going through a serious drought that hit the energy, agriculture and transportation sectors.
And energy experts said that the ongoing drought in Britain, and in Europe in general, threatens electric power generation.
Experts announced a 20% decrease in the generation of electric power from hydroelectric sources that depend on water flow, which led to "limiting the work of nuclear facilities."
Reports stated that the rate of drying up of the source of the River Thames had reached an all-time high, and Britain's Met Office said last July was the driest in England since 1935.
Italy is no better off than France and Germany;
The Po River is witnessing an unprecedented drop in water levels due to the high temperatures the country is currently experiencing.
This river extends from Turin in the Alps to Venice on the Adriatic Sea, at a distance of approximately 652 km, and is the longest river in Italy.
The river constitutes a wide basin in which the most prominent industries and agricultural areas are concentrated, and according to estimates, nearly 16 million people live in the river basin, which is currently witnessing a sharp decline in its level, the sharpest in more than 70 years.
Economic repercussions
These conditions have caused major economic and commercial repercussions, in addition to other repercussions that may appear later if the drought continues.
As for the Rhine, it is one of the most important and longest rivers on the European continent, with a length of 1230 km. It originates in Switzerland, passes through France, Germany, Liechtenstein and the Netherlands, and finally flows into the North Sea. Several European cities are located on its banks.
The Rhine's water level dropped to less than 40 centimeters on Friday, according to a daily bulletin issued by the German Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration.
Approximately 58 million people live in the Rhine region and its waters are used for drinking, irrigation and manufacturing.
According to a report prepared by the American Bloomberg Agency, rivers contribute to transportation in Europe by about $80 billion.
In the context, the cost of freight increased, as the average transportation fee increased by about 30%, and in the Netherlands ferries were forced to stop, which affected the movement of cars, trucks and even bicycle traffic in some areas.