In 2005, what was referred to as a once-in-a-century drought struck nearly two million square kilometers (772,000 sq miles) of the Amazon, drying up rivers and setting off hundreds of forest fires. As fish died and crops withered, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and Colombia declared states of emergency. Then a more serious drought occurred—the 2010 version, which scorched an area 40% larger than the one affected in 2005. This one caused water levels in the Rio Negro, a major Amazon tributary, to fall to their lowest levels on record, and wreaked havoc on the environment and economies of the region. With another five years gone and much of southeastern Brazil again suffering from historically low levels of rainfall, scientists are concerned that... [Log in to read more]
