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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Jonathan Watts in Manaus

Drought turns Amazonian capital into climate dystopia

Floating houses and boats are seen stranded at the Marina do Davi, a docking area of the Negro river, city of Manaus in northern Brazil on 16 October 2023.
Rivers are the only means of access in many parts of the Amazon. Photograph: Michael Dantas/AFP/Getty Images

A withering drought has turned the Amazonian capital of Manaus into a climate dystopia with the second worst air quality in the world and rivers at the lowest levels in 121 years.

The city of 1 million people, which is surrounded by a forest of trees, normally basks under blue skies. Tourists take pleasure boats to the nearby meeting of the Negro and Amazon (known locally as the Solimões) rivers, where dolphins can often be seen enjoying what are usually the most abundant freshwater resources in the world.

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