The worst drought on record in the Amazon has led to rising water temperatures and drying lakes, resulting in the deaths of endangered freshwater dolphins. Riverine communities are also affected, with transport disrupted and floating houses stranded.

The drought's impact extends beyond wildlife. Riverine communities across the Amazon are facing unprecedented challenges.

A record drought has dramatically lowered water levels in the Amazon basin, turning once navigable waterways into dry riverbeds. The Solimoes River is at historic lows, endangering local wildlife and prompting environmental concerns.

The Amazon Rainforest’s main rivers are drying out due to an unprecedented drought exacerbated by climate change. Levels have continued to drop since Mongabay’s Sept 9. feature by Fernanda Wenzel. Major rivers such as the Madeira and Negro continue to beat record lows,

Extreme drought affecting large parts of South America has dramatically reduced the flow of the Amazon River where Colombia borders Peru and Brazil, choking food supplies and threatening residents' health.

Left: A drone view shows floating houses and boats which are stranded due to the drought affecting the Rio Negro, the largest left tributary of the Amazon River, at the Cacau Pirera district in Iranduba, Amazonas state, Brazil September 2, 2024. Photo by Bruno Kelly/REUTERS

The current drought is concerning because it comes relatively early in the Amazon's dry season.

The worst drought on record has lowered the water level of the rivers in the Amazon basin to historic lows, in some cases drying up riverbeds that were previously navigable waterways. The Solimoes, one of the main tributaries of the mighty Amazon River whose waters originate in the Peruvian Andes,

Brazil faces record wildfires and drought — and it may only get worse - Amazon fires have burned millions of acres, sending air quality plummeting for major metropolitan areas