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LOIREAUXENCE — French Famous for the hundreds of castles that line its banks, the Loire is a shallow river even at its best, but this year even flat-bottomed tourist boats can barely navigate the waters, which have been greatly reduced by record drought.
Even about 100 kilometers from where the Loire empties into the Atlantic, there are now sandbars as far as the eye can see and large islands leading to the coast where people can actually walk from one side of the Loire. There is also a place. to another river.
The Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its majestic chateaux such as Chambord, Chenonceau and Azay-le-Rideau, has historically suffered from low water levels. But this year's drought will be a wake-up call, said Eric Sawke.
"The tributaries of the Loire have completely dried up. This is unprecedented," said his Sauquet, head of hydrology at the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE). said Mr.
"You have to worry about the Loire," he added.
Low water levels are disastrous for freshwater fish. Shallow water loses oxygen when heated and becomes prey for herons and other predators.
``Fish need water, cold water, to live. It shrinks and gets trapped in puddles," says Souke.
NUCLEAR CHALLENGE
The flow of the river is about 40 cubic meters per second, less than 1/20th he of the annual average level. If authorities do not release the water from the Northack and Villerest dams, which he built in the 1980s to ensure the supply of cooling water to his four nuclear power plants built along the river, it will drop even lower. will be
The four plants, Belleville, Chinon, Dampierre and Saint-Laurent, have a combined capacity of 11.6 gigawatts, accounting for almost one-fifth of France's electricity production.
Some of EDF's plants have already been shut down for technical reasons, and others are operating at reduced capacity due to low water levels in the rivers. Closure of one or more of the power plants in Europe could lead to higher electricity prices across Europe.
Tourists and locals alike marveled at the river's enormous exposed sandbars, but were puzzled.
"Even in 1976, the water level had never been this low," said Brigitte Gaboury Desfoys, a long-time river resident.
However, days after massive wildfires ravaged France, heavy rains flooded parts of the Paris metro system, and storms swept through the south of France, causing natural fires in several southern villages. Water was hauled in trucks as springs dried up.
"Climate change is on the way. It is undeniable...All users should reconsider their actions regarding water resources," said Sauquet. said Mr.
(reporting by Stephane Mahe, additional reporting by Manuel Ausloos and Forrest Crellin, writing by Geert De Clercq, editing by Ingrid Melander and Gareth Jones)