In Pictures: Europe’s worst drought in 500 years exposes ancient stones, WWII ships

Europe is facing its worst drought in at least 500 years. According to the most recent Global Drought Observatory report, 47 per cent of Europe is in “warning” conditions, which means the soil has dried up.

This summer’s record-breaking temperatures in Europe have disrupted transportation, displaced thousands, and resulted in hundreds of heat-related deaths. The recent heatwave has also fuelled destructive wildfires.

“The combination of a severe drought and heatwaves has created an unprecedented stress on water levels in the entire European Union,” European Innovation Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said in a statement.

The low water levels have exposed long-submerged treasure and ancient stones across Europe. German World War II ships have also been exposed to drought.

Have a look at the pictures:

Wreckage of a World War II German warship in the Danube in Prahovo, Serbia

World War II bomb was discovered in the dried-up River Po in Borgo Virgilio, Italy, on August 7

Remains of a bridge on the Tiber River near the Vittorio Emanuele

“Hunger stones” revealed by the low level of water in Worms, Germany, on August 17

The dolmen of Guadalperal, also known as the Spanish Stonehenge, in the outskirts of El Gordo, Spain, August 3

Similarly, receding water levels of China’s Yangtze has revealed ancient Buddhist statues. They are believed to date to some 600 years ago.