A Tropical Heat Wave

Marilyn Monroe once made the song about A tropical heat wave famous. The text has a tailor-made ending, "Gee, her anatomy, Makes the mercury, Jump to ninety-three." Well, during the recent weeks, we encountered higher temperatures than the corresponding 34 ⁰C.

It is not so much the heat that is annoying, but the drought is worrying. Over the last three weeks, Freiburg and its surroundings had no substantial rain. All over Germany, farmers are moaning. In particular, in northern Germany - generally soaked with rain coming in from the west - more than 50% of the crops are lost.

©dpa

Here is a local picture of the Stühlinger Kirchplatz. Instead of a green meadow, people are lying on an alliterated Steppe im Stühlinger. In the back is the Church of the Sacred Heart. The formerly green church square served as an art object before.

©JKI/Der Sonntag

Freiburg's river, the Dreisam, is falling dry.

©BZ

While within the city boundaries, bathers still enjoy what is left of the water ...

©BZ

... further downstream, the remains trickle away in the gravel bed.

©Der Sonntag

Those who suffer most are the fish, both from the lack of sufficient fresh supplies and the high temperature of the remaining water.

©Der Sonntag

The photo shows a dying animal, but a local picture of fish coming to the surface and gasping for oxygen is heartbreaking. This happens at the Waldsee, a small lake in a forest nearby. The fire brigade has started to pump out the water, splashing it back in the hope that it may absorb some oxygen from the air.

©BZ

A little rain is expected next Tuesday. False alarm again?

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