IN IMAGES, IN PICTURES. Nine striking photos of the drought hitting France

The sun is scorching over the whole of France, this Friday August 12, with 19 departments from the south-west to Finistère placed on heatwave orange vigilance by Météo France. After a month of July when less than one centimeter of rain fell on average, the drought is exceptional. The water tables are emptying to a worrying level.

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It is forbidden to water in a large part of France and 73 prefects have even banned water withdrawals from farmers in all or part of their departments. The long-awaited rain will arrive in thunderstorms this Friday evening over the Alps and the Pyrenees, but only from Saturday evening on the rest of France. It will not be too much, as shown by these photos of a France heavily marked by drought.

From rivers to ponds, a dry France

The flow of the Loire, which is the subject of particular attention, should soon reach the crisis threshold. If this is reached, any withdrawal from the river will be prohibited, regardless of the use.

The situation is the same for other rivers, such as the Rhône whose flow rate is 40 to 50% lower than in previous years.

agriculture in distress

First victim of the drought, agriculture. The use of water is regulated or even prohibited for agricultural use in certain departments. According to the latest sector forecasts, cereal production will be heavily affected by the water stress of recent weeks.

The disappearance of fodder for animals poses also question for milk production. The start of the school year promises to be under great tension. During the summer period, 50% of the volumes of water consumed are consumed by the agricultural sector.

The water level of canals and waterways at its lowest

River navigation is also affected by the drought. In some parts of the territory, several canals have been closed to navigation while cargo ships are sometimes forced to reduce their cargo.