The Heat Is On, Revisited: The Rivers Run Dry

It's been a hot one out there. Summer, that is. Record breaking in many ways, as I wrote about in my July 11th post "The Heat Is On: Sizzling & Sweltering this Summer."

Since then, the heat has continued. I'm fascinating by the number of articles I've run across that have revealed true "hidden treasures" that have literally surfaced in the drought conditions we have seen. Riverbeds have been hit hard in the drought, and items that were down at the bottom have essentially found their way to the top...not by being dislodged or floating there, but by the drought-stricken rivers falling to record low water-levels. As these have dropped, finds have been founds and made visible. Everything from prehistoric remains, historic insfrastructures, and wartime wreckage. 

The Danube River has been hit particularly hard and many items have been found in its riverbed and along the now-visiable riverbanks. Historical finds include:

• Ice Age Woolly Mammoth remains near Ryahovo, Bulgaria iinclude a lower jaw, tusks, and possibly a rib. 
• Elements of Constantine’s Bridge have been exposed in Bulgaria. This was a Roman bridge opened in AD 328.
• World War II German ships near Prahovo, Serbia. This area in particular could also contain some wartime ammunition that has yet to to be detonated, so that area is being treated with extreme caution.
• WWII Wehremacht motorcycle and other military artifacts and wartime debris near Budapest, Hungary. Again, with the potential for munitions, that area is being treated with caution.
• World War II shipwreck near Mohács, Hungary has resurfaced.
• The Fulton cargo shipwreck near Opatovac, Croatia has a now-visible hull showing from this coal-carrying ship that sank in 1937.

But, the Danube River is not alone in its findings of hidden relics. Here are some other surfaced appearances:

• “Hunger stone” in the Elbe River, near Pirna-Oberposta, Germany (near the Czech border). This historic carved stone has dates going back to 1707 from other droughts, when exposed due to low water levels. These served as both warnings and historical stories of other times when poor harvests, shipping/transport issues, and hunger and famine were an issue to due drought conditions.
• Remains of Nero's bridge in Rome are exposed by the Tiber River in Italy, dating back to 39 AD
• Similar low-water inscriptions appeared in the Rhine River, near Leverkusen, Germany. One showed a low-level date of 1959.
• Lake Brenets, which borders Switzerland and France and is a big sight for tourism, had near-nonexistent water on the exposed lake bottom due to water levels dropping from the nearby River Doubs.
• 
  The “Spanish Stonehenge” (Guadalperal Dolmen) in the Valdecañas Reservoir, Spain resurfaced again, thanks to the overly-dry conditions. This prehistoric megalithic monument which typically is submerged once again became visible. 
  

As with any find like this, these are historical artifacts. It is not a collectors' paradise. Stability problems coincide when water levels are so low such as unstable banks, contaminated sediment, protected archaeological material, and unexploded munitions. These are finds that should be reported to local authorities so they can safely examine the heritage and history of these items.

While the droughts have exposed some amazing historical finds, they also reveal the force of our changing climate. Riverbeds are meant to carry water, and drought has disrupted and impacted the water needs of these communities. River ecosystems are not operating as needed--nor are shipping systems and local water supplies for drinking and more. The reappearance of  "hunger stones" show us this isn't the first time that area has been in crisis. The dry conditions also raise the risk and highlight the fire danger that we also have seen in France and Spain this summer. 

All of this is a reminder to that preparation, shared care, water conservation, and healthier landscapes can make a meaningful difference. These drying riverbed appearances serve as a warning and an alert system. These discoveries are an invitation to pay attention to the world we live in, and they offer a chance to learn from the past while thinking more carefully about how we protect water, landscapes, and one another in the future.

Map from https://edulearningss.wordpress.com/2026/01/23/europe-rivers-map-with-names-for-education-use/; other images from https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/08/10/historic-drought-rivers-reveal-hunger-stones-warships-and-mammoth-remains and https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/31/climate/shrinking-rivers-reveal-past-relics-in-europe and https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2gp3zmkpmo

The Heat Is On: Sizzling & Sweltering this Summer

The end of June found Europe sweating, with over the top, record breaking temperatures.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, the following countries all had areas that broke records, many of them for 3 consecutive days during the span of time between June 21--28, 2026: Germany, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, France, and Spain. Not only is extreme heat a serious health danger, but the fact that temperatures don't give way during overnight is a huge problem. The lack of cooling starts us all off "behind the 8 ball." Bodies do not have a chance to recover, putting heat stress on top of heat stress in a cumulative manner.

Using Perplexity.AI and the World Meteorological Organization's June 29, 2026 article , I crafted this simplified graphic and using the following conversion from Celcius to Fahrenheit as: F = (C × 9/5) + 32. Given that, 40°C is approximately 104°F and 42°C ≈ 108°F.

Meanwhile, "across the pond," the following week we had DC, Maryland, Philadelphia, & Boston, among the major areas that had to postpone their 4th of July celebrations based on extreme temperatures with triple-digit heat indexes. A "heat dome" high pressure system trapped humidity from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic States. Power grids in many US locations were pushed to their limits. My 5 pm July 3rd weather was listed at 99°F with a "feels like" temperature of 110°F... well past the height of the heat of the day.

Climate Scientist Katharine Hayhoe, whom I adore, called it for what it is--a direct effect from climate change which has been impacted by fossil fuel pollution. Be sure to click the "see more" to read her entire post with coordinating links: 

It's not "just summer" when it comes to record breaking heat of this extreme.

A great resource for Grades 6-12 teachers is OER Project: Teach Climate Change, a collection of free lesson plans. I know it's summer, but this is when we teachers do our percolating, especially when we have climate news happening around us to the point where it may impact our vacations and our patriotic holidays. There are a multitude of other resources also available at OER for history, science, geography and more. 

We need to take note and educate ourselves that this heat wave is not just a quirk of nature with these sizzling, sweltering days. It's a health concern for our entire planet. We need to go forward, not with despair, but with informed, collective action using the science and common connections. Through these, we take small steps to caring for each other and our shared home.

Graphic created using Perplexity.AI and data obtained from https://wmo.int/media/news/record-breaking-heat-spreads-through-europe; Katharine Hayhoe's Facebook post from https://www.facebook.com/20531316728/posts/10154009990506729/

A Month of Merries, Happies, and Best Wishes This Week.

Based on the last post, we know there's a multitude of cultural celebrations this month... many of which happened this last week alone. No matter which one you celebrate, may your heart be full while you create memories that hopefully will last you a lifetime. Sending you...

Merries... Happies.... Cheers.... Best Wishes.... Chag Sameach... ¡Feliz Las Posadas!...

May your homes be filled with many blessings...

Lots of love, peace, and happiness...

Image created at Canva.com

Global Green Holiday Rituals

With the holidays upon us, a lot of global holidays have built-in green rituals. Cultures worldwide can inspire us to find our own new holiday traditions with a festive flair of sustainability. Maybe you can weave one of these into your seasonal holidays this year.

German Christian markets, known as Weihnachtsmärkte, have both a lively, festive atmosphere and a focus on local handicrafts. Homemade gifts are the center of sustainability with their wooden ornaments, beeswax candles, and repurposed crafts all made by local artisans. This tradition encourages shoppers to buy items that last, support the community, and reduce commercialized packaging and transportation waste. Plus, the market stalls, lights, music, and camaraderie build up a social, community vibe.

If you found yourself in Finland on Christmas eve, you'd find yourself in the middle of a warm and toasty wood-fired sauna tradition! The heating of the sauna, bringing in natural birch branches, and focusing on the peace that comes from within. Family gather together feasts of local food helps cherish the joy of simplicity, the connection of families with nature, and the peach of the season.

"Down Under" in Australia and across southern Africa, December means summer. Given the seasonal warmth, families come outdoors to host festive gatherings and picnics. Fresh, local produce is at the center of these. Additionally, many folks add traditions such as kplanting native trees or organizing beach clean ups. What a wonderful way to combine celebrations, stewardship, and joy... nurturing nature along the way.

The Japanese custom of furoshiki transforms gift-giving into a creative art. Instead of using paper or plastic to wrap gifts, beautiful cloth is used to elegantly wrap presents. This is at the height of recycling and reusing materials, significantly cutting down waste. It is a delightful way to wrap a gift in love... for both the recipient and the planet!

Scottish Hagmanay traditions mark the New Year with renewal-centered rituals. The families "redd" their homes, meaning they thoroughly clean them out. This extends to local parks & waterways to community clean ups, symbollizing the fresh start to both their home & environment. Likewise, many Native American Winter Solstice ceremonies give thanks to the earth & harvest, over shared meals & planting trees.

From European cities to Asian villages, lantern and light festivals highlight the return of longer days. Handmade lanterns and candles fill the streeets. The bounty of light serves as metaphors for hope, environmental renewal, and community togetherness. Lanterns are often made of recycled or natural materials and occasionally use reusable lights. Community clean-ups also mark the festival of lights.

In this commemoration of global rituals, one thing stands out: celebration and conservation can go hand in hand. Whether it’s supporting local artisans, decorating with natural items, working together as a community to take part in a clean up, or living life with a simpler approach... joy and sustainability serve each other beautifully. 

What lessons can you take from these traditions this year?

All images created in Canva.com.