European rivers have had their lowest water levels in 30 years – archive images

Oct 2, 2026

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Blick über den extremen Niedrigwasser führenden Rhein zur Halbinsel Höri, Eschenz, Kanton Thurgau, Schweiz View across the extremely low-water Rhine to the Höri Peninsula, Eschenz, Canton of Thurgau, Switzerland Copyright: imageBROKER MarkusxKeller ibxmkl19266977.jpg
Niedrigwasserstand am Rhein, hinten der frühzeitig braun verfärbte Wald, Hitzesommer 2026, Rheinfelden, Kanton Aargau, Schweiz Low water level on the Rhine, early brown-colored forest at the back, heat summer 2026, Rheinfelden, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland Copyright: imageBROKER StefanxHuwiler ibxshu18836453.jpg
Blick auf die Mündung des Flusses Camel von einer Drohne bei Ebbe über Padstow and Rock, Cornwall, England, Großbritannien, Sommer 2026 View of River Camel Estuary from a drone at low tide over Padstow and Rock, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Summer 2026 Copyright: imageBROKER MaciejxOlszewski ibxmao18798317.jpg
Ausblick über den Rhein bei sehr niedrigem Wasser, Trockenheit, Wassermangel, Düsseldorf, Deutschland View over the Rhine with very low water, drought, water shortage, Düsseldorf, Germany Copyright: imageBROKER Fotowerkstatt-ks ibxknr18807507.jpg
Poland s Zywiec Lake reservoir with low water levels as dry weat ZYWIEC, POLAND- SEPTEMBER 15: An aerial view of recreational boats on dry soil on the Zywiec water reservoir with low water levels due to the ongoing drought in Poland in Zywiec, Poland on September 15, 2026. Zywiec Lake is a reservoir on the Sola River in southern Poland. It was created in 1966, when several villages in the area were flooded following the construction of a dam. The central Eastern European country has been heavily affected by the intense European drought and high temperatures, with several water reservoirs at low water levels and rivers establishing records for low levels. Omar Marques Anadolu Zywiec Poland. Editorial use only. Please get in touch for any o Copyright: x2026xAnadoluxOmarxMarquesx
Bei Niedrigwasser ist die Bogener alte Donau größtenteils trocken gelegt. Am Ufer stehen Bäume. Im Hintergrund ist auf dem Bogenberg unter leicht bewölktem Himmel die Wallfahrtskirche Mariä Himmelfahrt erkennbar. Bogen, Niederbayern At low tide, the Bogener Alte Donau is largely drained. There are trees on the shore. In the background, the pilgrimage church of the Assumption of the Virgin can be seen on the Bogenberg under a slightly cloudy sky. Bogen, Lower Bavaria Copyright: imageBROKER JoachimxStingl ibljml18963923.jpg
Schlamm und Sandstrand bei Ebbe, Ramsholt Arms Public House, Fluss Deben, Ramsholt, Suffolk, England, Großbritannien Mud and sandy beach at low tide, Ramsholt Arms public house, River Deben, Ramsholt, Suffolk, England, UK Copyright: imageBROKER IanxMurray iblimu18848958.jpg
Cargo barge near Düsseldorf with low water levels on the Rhine on August 27, 2026, Düsseldorf, Germany Copyright: xSebastianxRaux
Low Water Levels on the Danube in Regensburg, Bavaria: Heat and Drought Have Led to Water Levels in Some Parts of Europe That Are at Historic Lows. In several places, the Danube is carrying less water than at any time since records began. The consequences are far-reaching. The river has reached a record-low water level.
Low Water Levels on the Danube in Regensburg, Bavaria: Heat and Drought Have Led to Water Levels in Some Parts of Europe That Are at Historic Lows. In several places, the Danube is carrying less water than at any time since records began. The consequences are far-reaching. The river has reached a record-low water level.
The water level of the Rhine is at a record low. Shipping on the Rhine is severely disrupted by the low water levels. Only a few ships are still sailing, and those are operating with reduced cargo. Pfalzgrafenstein Castle in Kaub on the Middle Rhine. This landmark is a former customs fortress built on a rocky island in the Rhine. August 12, 2026, Kaub,
Rhine-Nahe Corner in Bingen, featuring the Mäuseturm landmark. Extremely low water levels are drastically restricting navigation on the Rhine. August 12, 2026, Bingen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Bergsee, Berge, Spiegelung, sonnig, Sommer, Trockenheit, Niedrigwasser, Dürre, Brücke, Straße, Autos, Luftbild, August 2026, Sylvensteinspeicher, Sylvensteinsee, Isar, Lenggries, Bayerische Alpen, Bayern, Deutschland Mountain lake, mountains, reflection, sunny, summer, drought, low water, drought, bridge, road, cars, aerial view, August 2026, Sylvenstein Dam, Sylvensteinsee, Isar, Lenggries, Bavarian Alps, Bavaria, Germany Copyright: imageBROKER MartinaxMelzer ibxmmm18731917.jpg
Water Shortage in the Münster Administrative District The Ems River in the nature reserve near Greven is experiencing an acute water shortage. The Münster District Government has prohibited water withdrawal from the Ems. Steinfurt and Warendorf counties and the city of Münster; Greven, North Rhine-Westphalia, DEU, Germany, August 7, 2026
it still needs a lot of rain until the Rhine has its normal level again Duesseldorf Rhine river at Hamm low water comes
Italien, Po führt Niedrigwasser River Po, the ongoing environmental disaster. Copyright: xBonomoxAntoninox xipa-agency.netx xx

Images in this collection

Blick über den extremen Niedrigwasser führenden Rhein zur Halbinsel Höri, Eschenz, Kanton Thurgau, Schweiz View across the extremely low-water Rhine to the Höri Peninsula, Eschenz, Canton of Thurgau, Switzerland Copyright: imageBROKER MarkusxKeller ibxmkl19266977.jpg

Ausblick über den Rhein bei sehr niedrigem Wasser, Trockenheit, Wassermangel, Düsseldorf, Deutschland View over the Rhine with very low water, drought, water shortage, Düsseldorf, Germany Copyright: imageBROKER Fotowerkstatt-ks ibxknr18807507.jpg

Schlamm und Sandstrand bei Ebbe, Ramsholt Arms Public House, Fluss Deben, Ramsholt, Suffolk, England, Großbritannien Mud and sandy beach at low tide, Ramsholt Arms public house, River Deben, Ramsholt, Suffolk, England, UK Copyright: imageBROKER IanxMurray iblimu18848958.jpg

Cargo barge near Düsseldorf with low water levels on the Rhine on August 27, 2026, Düsseldorf, Germany Copyright: xSebastianxRaux

Rhine-Nahe Corner in Bingen, featuring the Mäuseturm landmark. Extremely low water levels are drastically restricting navigation on the Rhine. August 12, 2026, Bingen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

it still needs a lot of rain until the Rhine has its normal level again Duesseldorf Rhine river at Hamm low water comes

Italien, Po führt Niedrigwasser River Po, the ongoing environmental disaster. Copyright: xBonomoxAntoninox xipa-agency.netx xx