Germany's rivers and reservoirs hit historic low water levels, crippling shipping and tourism

The Elbe river has fallen below the minimum depth required for year‑round navigation, with water levels now almost constantly under 1.6 metres. In 2025 only about 0.03 million tonnes of cargo were transported, far short of the 12 million tonnes projected in the 1992 transport plan, and most ships can carry no cargo at all.

At the Edersee reservoir the water volume dropped below the 40 million‑cubic‑metre threshold, forcing the water‑release authority to cut outflow to a minimum of 6 m³/s. The resulting low water level has halted commercial navigation, caused a pause in tourist boat services, and led to a noticeable decline in vacation bookings for the region.

On Lake Constance, the historic ferry "Konstanz" became immobilised when the water level fell to a record‑low 3.05 metres and seaweed tangled its pump drive. The water‑protection police assisted for two hours to free the 180‑ton vessel, after which the ferry will remain out of service until conditions improve.

Together, these events illustrate severe drought impacts on Germany's inland waterways, disrupting freight transport, tourism and local economies.