"Drought Turns Amazonian Capital Into Climate Dystopia"

Forest fires leave Manaus with second worst air quality in the world, while low river levels cut off communities".

"A withering drought has turned the Amazonian capital of Manaus into a climate dystopia with the second worst air quality in the world and rivers at the lowest levels in 121 years.

The city of 1 million people, which is surrounded by a forest of trees, normally basks under blue skies. Tourists take pleasure boats to the nearby meeting of the Negro and Amazon (known locally as the Solimões) rivers, where dolphins can often be seen enjoying what are usually the most abundant freshwater resources in the world.

But an unusually dry season, worsened by an El Niño and human-driven global heating, has threatened the city’s self-image, the wellbeing of its residents and the survival prospects for the entire Amazon basin.

The forest capital has been enveloped in a murky brown haze reminiscent of China during its most polluted phase. The usually vibrant port has been pushed far out across the dried-up, rubbish-strewn mud flats."

Jonathan Watts reports for the Guardian October 18, 2023.

SEE ALSO:

"Drought in the Amazon: Understanding The Causes And The Need For An Immediate Action Plan To Save The Biome" (The Conversation)

"Amazon's Indigenous People Urge Brazil To Declare Climate Emergency As Rivers Dry Up" (Reuters)

"A Severe Drought Pushes an Imperiled Amazon to the Brink" (New York Times)