Brazil Drought Sinks Amazon Rainforest Port to 122-Year Low...

The river port in Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon rainforest, has reached its lowest water level since 1902, as a devastating drought drains critical waterways. The Rio Negro, a major tributary of the Amazon River, measured at just meters on Friday, breaking last year’s record low. Experts fear levels will continue to fall over the coming weeks, disrupting the transportation of grain exports and essential supplies. Climate change is cited as the main driver behind the ongoing drought, which has gripped the Amazon and much of South America for more than a year. This dry spell has also fueled the worst wildfires in over a decade in Brazil and Bolivia. Hydropower plants, Brazil’s primary energy source, are also struggling, pushing energy authorities to consider reinstating daylight saving time to conserve power. In Amazonas state alone, 62 municipalities are in a state of emergency, with over half a million people affected. This crisis could repeat or surpass last year’s hu