European rivers are currently at their lowest levels in recorded history, driven by an extended period of unusually dry weather and minimal rainfall. This has led to widespread disruptions across the continent, with economic consequences estimated in the tens of billions of euros. The British newspaper Financial Times reports that the effects of this extreme drought are being felt across the continent, particularly in the Rhine River basin, which is a key transport route for goods in Europe. The Rhine, one of Europe’s most important waterways, has reached its lowest level in history due to a scorching summer. This has severely impacted businesses that depend on the river for transporting goods through Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe. Barges moving chemicals, oil, and other goods to and from the port are now only filled to 30% of their capacity to avoid running aground on the exposed riverbed. As a result, shipowners are paying out of their own pockets to charter an additional hundred barges each week, and they have not yet returned to the transport levels seen before the summer. For Lex Bezemer of the Rotterdam Port Authority, this situation is “one of the most remarkable events of the last decades.” The costly measures taken by the port are just a small part of the overall economic impact of this unexpected dry season. The situation is expected to have lasting effects on various sectors, including agriculture, industry, and even the technology sector, potentially leading to long-term changes in how economic activities are conducted in Europe. The Financial Times cites the European Institute for Economics and Environment (EIEE), an independent research organization, as a source for further analysis on the broader economic implications of the drought. The Financial Times, established in 1888 as the London Financial Guide, is one of Europe’s leading financial and economic newspapers, with over 600 journalists based in more than 40 countries. In addition to the drought, a heatwave alert has been issued in France, where poultry farms are struggling to prevent animal deaths due to the extreme temperatures.