Rhine River Level Drops to Historic Low

Despite recent rainfall, the Rhine River in the region around Cologne and Bonn has sunk to record low levels. On Monday morning the water level stood at 80 centimeters (31.5 inches), three centimeters under the previous record low measured in 1947. While ship traffic was allowed, authorities said ship owners travelled the waterway at their own risk. Experts predict the low levels will continue throughout October and are not ruling out new record lows being reached. Water levels on the Rhine have been measured since 1808. In Cologne, levels are measured from a starting point of one meter, therefore Monday's 80 centimeter measurement corresponded to an actual water depth of 1.8 meters. "Still, I wouldn't recommend people trying to cross the river by foot," said Reinhard Vogt of Germany's flood protection authority. Despite the low levels, the river's currents and troughs in the river bed make any such attempt life threatening.