the Po Valley hit by a historic drought

At the beginning of summer, the Brenta river, in Bassano (Italy), is completely dry, a symbol of the unprecedented phenomenon affecting the north of the country. Even the Po, the main artery of the country, is no longer navigable, Thursday July 7. Only flat-bottomed boats still pass. The water level is exceptionally low, two meters below what it should be. In 70 years of measurements, professionals had never observed such a disappearance.

“Walking on water like Jesus Christ is something we never imagined. But it shows how complicated the situation is. We must take all this seriously: we are living in a moment of great urgency“, laments Giuliano Landini, captain of the ship Stradiviari – Boretto. In recent days, unprecedented measures have been taken to save what remains of water, as in Milan (Italy).

In the city, the supply of the main fountains was cut off by decision of the municipality, and the basins were emptied. In addition, the canal that crosses the city has been cut off from part of its water. The watering of sports grounds is regulated, as well as car washes. In Milan, as in Verona (Italy), the inhabitants are called upon to ration themselves.