Why it matters: The measurements warn that parts of the Amazon Basin, the largest watershed in the world, are being stressed and the deterioration of the one of the most biodiverse places on Earth may be accelerating.
- The drought is also driving extensive wildfires and human-caused fires that are smothering Brazilian cities with smoke.
By the numbers: The water level of the Negro River dropped to 44.3 feet on Tuesday — the lowest since measurements began there 121 years ago.
- The Madeira River, another vital tributary of the Amazon, also recorded historically low levels, according to AP.
Threat level: The low water levels have isolated riverine communities that rely on boats for transportation, disrupting their access to drinkable water and other supplies.
- Indigenous peoples asked the Brazilian government last week to declare a climate emergency in response to the drought, Reuters notes.