‘Hunger stones’ resurface as Europe faces historic drought
River levels across Europe are falling due to a historic drought, revealing "hunger stones" carved with centuries-old warnings of hunger and deprivation.
Water levels in Europe's major rivers have fallen due to a historic drought in the region. Locals report that age-old warning messages have appeared in these dry riverbeds.
The "terrifying" boulders are known as "Hungersteinor "Hungry Stones," wrote local German reporter Olaf Coens in an Aug. 11 tweet.
One of these stones is embedded in Elbe riverwhich runs from the mountains of the Czech Republic through Germany to the North Sea, POLITICO journalist Aitor Hernández-Morales tweeted on the same day.
According to Hernández-Morales, the rock, formed during the drought of 1616, is again visible in the dry river bed. The warning reads: "Wenn du mich seehst, dann weine" – "If you see me, cry."
"Hungry rocks" like this one have been used as "hydrological landmarks" across Central Europe, NPR reports, when the rocks last surfaced during the 2018 drought.
River levels across Europe are falling due to a historic drought, revealing "hunger stones" carved with centuries-old warnings of hunger and deprivation. AP
These stones are "carved by years of hardship and the authors' initials lost to history," a group of Czech researchers wrote in a 2013 study. "The main inscriptions warn of the consequences of drought. It said the drought brought poor harvests, food shortages, high prices, and starvation for the poor." The stones commemorate historic droughts, the researchers say.
The current drought in Europe is certainly historic. Scientists from the European Drought Observatory have said the drought could be the worst in 500 years, Sky News reports.
According to the Drought Observatory, 47% of Europe is on a drought alert, which means there is a lack of moisture in the soil. Another 17% are on alert, meaning that the vegetation in the area is suffering from dry conditions.
According to DW, the main rivers of Germany, Italy and England – the Rhine, Po and Thames, respectively – are drying up. The issue reported that the rivers are "too dry, too low and too warm", with implications for wildlife, the economy and people.
The water levels in the Rhine River are about half their usual depth for this time of year, and in some sections the water levels are even lower, according to DW. This has made river transport five times more expensive as cargo ships have to carry less weight to avoid running aground, Reuters reported.
Italy's prime minister said the country is facing "the most serious water crisis in 70 years."
Boats lie on a dry lakebed in the port of Velence, Hungary, Thursday, August 11, 2022. A severe drought swept through Europe, which also affected Hungary. According to the General Directorate of Water Management (OVF), the water level in Lake Velence, a popular tourist lake near Budapest, has reached its lowest level on record. (AP Photo/Anna Silaji) / AP
The drought comes after months of high temperatures and little rainfall, according to The Washington Post. Human-induced climate change has also contributed to the "intensity, frequency and duration of heat events" and increased droughts, the publication reports.
According to European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries"Droughts have become our summer reality," he tweeted.
Italy, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine and France fight drought, EuroNews and Sky News.
Conditions are not expected to improve anytime soon, with the European Drought Observatory telling Sky News that "we estimate the situation will worsen in much of Europe."
