Rhine to Recede Further as Climate Crisis Adds to Energy Crunch
- Lower water levels restrict the transport of vital commodities
- Water level at key waypoint set to decline into next week
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The Rhine River is set to continue shriveling early into next week, further restricting the supply of vital commodities to parts of inland Europe as the continent battles with its worst energy crisis in decades.
A key water marker at Kaub -- where the river is narrow and shallow -- is poised to fall to 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) by Monday and drop further in subsequent days, according to German government data. At 40 centimeters, a level it reached Friday, it’s not economical for many barges to transit the chokepoint.