Record-low water levels on the Danube River reveal Nazi warships and ancient mammoth bones
Drought conditions across Europe have pushed the Danube River to record-low water levels, exposing long-submerged relics. In Serbia, the receding water has revealed the hulks of dozens of World War II German battleships that were deliberately scuttled in 1944. These ships, some still laden with explosives, remain visible near the port of Prahovo. Simultaneously, the river's drop has unveiled the remains of an ancient woolly mammoth in northern Bulgaria. Nikolay Nenov, director of the Regional Historical Museum, confirmed the discovery of a jawbone, tusks, and other fragments belonging to a single animal. The extreme heat and drought are also creating significant logistical challenges. In Hungary, Prime Minister Peter Magyar noted that the Paks Nuclear Power Plant will be shut down for weeks due to the lack of water for cooling. Additionally, the low water levels are disrupting shipping and tourism, forcing cargo ships to reduce loads and causing some river cruises to run aground. Experts warn that these conditions are a direct result of the human-driven climate crisis.