Lowest water level in the Rhine in 500 years expected, archive images

Jul 28, 2026

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Low Water Levels on the Rhine Between Rhöndorf and Bad Honnef Low Water Levels on the Rhine Between Rhöndorf and Bad Honnef Due to persistent drought and a new heat wave, parts of the riverbed are dry, and the water level at Oberwinter is now only 18 cm. Boat traffic is severely restricted due to the lo Copyright: xMarcxJohnx
Low water levels on the Rhine near Rolandseck; the Bad Honnef ferry is diverting to a temporary ramp. Low water levels on the Rhine near Rolandswerth on the Rhine island of Nonnenwerth. With the water level at the Oberwinter gauge at 18 cm, ships attempting to dock are already running aground. The regular ferry ter Copyright: xMarcxJohnx
Observations near Krefeld-Uerdingen of inland waterway vessels on the Rhine during low water levels; Economy; Inland Trade; Inland Waterway Vessels on the Rhine
July 24, 2026 Düsseldorf Cityscape of Düsseldorf, the state capital; from left to right: Police Headquarters, Stadttor, Rhine Tower with the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament, and Medienhafen; Düsseldorf City Center; Port; Medienhafen; North Rhine-Westphalia; Germany
Low Water Levels on the Rhine in Bonn-Beuel Low Water Levels on the Rhine With the water level at the Bonn gauge station at 125 cm, the riverbed along the Beuel bank of the Rhine is dry except for the lower-lying navigation channel; view looking north toward the heavily trafficked Kennedy Bridge, with the closed Nordbrücke in the background. Friedrich Ebert Bridge, Bonn-Beuel, No Copyright: xMarcxJohnx
Low Water Levels on the Rhine in Bonn-Beuel Low Water Levels on the Rhine With the water level at the Bonn gauge station at 125 cm, the riverbed along the Beuel bank of the Rhine is dry except for the lower-lying navigation channel; view looking north toward the heavily trafficked Kennedy Bridge, with the closed Nordbrücke in the background. Friedrich Ebert Bridge, Bonn-Beuel, No Copyright: xMarcxJohnx
Low Water Levels on the Rhine in Bonn-Beuel Low Water Levels on the Rhine With the water level at the Bonn gauge station at 125 cm, the riverbed on the Beuel side of the Rhine is dry except for the lower-lying navigation channel; view looking north toward the heavily trafficked Kennedy Bridge, with the closed Nordbrücke in the background. Friedrich Ebert Bridge, Bonn-Beuel, North Copyright: xMarcxJohnx
Low water level on the Rhine at the Emmerich gauge. The Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration published a water level of 15 cm for July 17, 2026. The low water level poses a problem for inland waterway shipping. If it drops too low, ships are no longer allowed to be fully loaded. An inland vessel on the Rhine near Em
Drought Takes Its Toll: The Rhine Is Barely Carrying Any Water; Sandbank, A buoy that normally floats in the water now Copyright: x xonw-imagesx xPhilippxAndrÃ x
Low Water Levels on the Rhine: Heat Wave and Drought Cause Water Levels to Drop Grafenwerth Island: The eel boat Aranka, which is nearly aground in the dead arm of the Rhine Low water levels on the Copyright: xMarcxJohnx
Low Water Levels on the Rhine in Cologne: Vegetation on the Exposed Riverbed Exposed riverbed on the Deutz side of the Rhine in Cologne at a water level of 100 cm The low water levels have persisted long enough that the first plants are already taking root on the exposed gravel banks. In the background are the Hohenzollern Bridge and Cologne Cathedral. Cologne, North Rh Copyright: xMarcxJohnx
Low water levels in Cologne: A view of Cologne from the Rodenkirchen Rhine Bridge in the summer heat. The ongoing drought has caused the Rhine s water level at Cologne to drop to 100 cm. In the background are the Kranhäuser and Cologne Cathedral. Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Copyright: xMarcxJohnx
Low water in Cologne 28 05 2026 Low water on the Rhine in Cologne Poll at sunset With a Rhine level of 150 cm at the Cologne gauge, large areas of sand and gravel are exposed on the banks The view from the Rodenkirchen Bridge shows the Rhine with the Cologne skyline, Copyright: xMarcxJohnx

Images in this collection

Observations near Krefeld-Uerdingen of inland waterway vessels on the Rhine during low water levels; Economy; Inland Trade; Inland Waterway Vessels on the Rhine

July 24, 2026 Düsseldorf Cityscape of Düsseldorf, the state capital; from left to right: Police Headquarters, Stadttor, Rhine Tower with the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament, and Medienhafen; Düsseldorf City Center; Port; Medienhafen; North Rhine-Westphalia; Germany

Drought Takes Its Toll: The Rhine Is Barely Carrying Any Water; Sandbank, A buoy that normally floats in the water now Copyright: x xonw-imagesx xPhilippxAndrÃ x

Low Water Levels on the Rhine: Heat Wave and Drought Cause Water Levels to Drop Grafenwerth Island: The eel boat Aranka, which is nearly aground in the dead arm of the Rhine Low water levels on the Copyright: xMarcxJohnx

Low water in Cologne 28 05 2026 Low water on the Rhine in Cologne Poll at sunset With a Rhine level of 150 cm at the Cologne gauge, large areas of sand and gravel are exposed on the banks The view from the Rodenkirchen Bridge shows the Rhine with the Cologne skyline, Copyright: xMarcxJohnx