Drought in Germany's Rhine River: 'We have 30 cm of water left'

As Europe grapples with a long, hot summer, one of the continent's major rivers is drying up – causing major problems for the people and businesses that rely on it.

Captain Andre Kimpel cast an experienced, but worried look across the Rhine, where the water level has dropped significantly in recent days.

Many ferry services in and around Kaub town have come to a standstill, but it is still carrying people and their cars across the water to the opposite shore – for now.

"It's no joke," he says as he navigates the waters that sparkle in the summer sun. "We have 1.5 meters [5 feet] of water and our boat sits 1.20 meters deep. So we have 30 centimeters of water left under us."

It is not unusual for the water level to drop here, but it is happening more frequently, says Captain Kimpel. "We used to have a lot of floods. Now we have very little water."

On the bank of the river, there is an old measuring station. Any captain wishing to enter the Upper Rhine shall refer to the official water level recorded here.

The current level has not yet fallen below the lowest figure recorded here in October 2018. Then the measurement was 25 cm (measurements are taken from a single reference point in the water, not the deepest point at the bottom of the river).

It is currently 42 cm - but it is forecast to fall further in the coming days.

Travel a little more uphill and the challenge is clear.

In the city of Baingan, large sections of the river bank are exposed, the powder of bleached stones is dried in the baking sun. People from a nearby town choose their way over the rocks, taking pictures. In normal times they would be under water. A man told me he's never seen it that way.

Few commercial ships navigate the remaining water channel more slowly here.

The Rhine is one of Europe's great working rivers, and industry here depends on barges to transport raw materials and finished products to and from power plants and factories located along the river.

The water is already too low to allow some large ships to pass through. Others have been forced to lower their cargo, lighten the load so they can sit more in the water. And they are keeping a close watch on the river level.