A lakebed exposed, in part, by heat and drought on the French-Swiss border now bears messages such as "SOS," which residents have etched into the weeds.
Here's what to know
Yvan Durig, the owner and captain of a navigation company in the region, told Agence France-Presse that Lac des Brenets has contracted sharply in recent months and over a period of years.
Only about 30 feet of water remains in its deepest pocket, instead of the usual 82 to 98 feet. A waterfall at the lake's edge has also stopped flowing.
According to AFP, the lake's retreat is tied to below-average rainfall, geological fissures, and repeated heat waves. Lac des Brenets sits at the border of France and Switzerland — both countries that saw record-breaking heat this summer.
The shrinking lake has been impacting the local economy, interrupting tourism in the area. Durig told AFP that his company had to stop boat operations in July.
That month, Reuters reported that dozens of watercraft had been stranded along the drying landscape, with the remaining water left brown.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
On Oct. 1, the lake measured 2,412.5 feet above sea level, according to AFP — 48.1 feet below its expected level and on track to fall past the record low set in 1906.
What's being done?
French and Swiss authorities created a task force in 2022 to study how to reduce the amount of water slipping into fissures beneath the lakebed, but AFP reported that the group has yet to take any concrete action.
"We must take action — indeed, be proactive — and seal the lakebed," Durig told the outlet.
It's a sentiment reflected in the weeds left visible by drying waters, where residents have left the messages "HELP" and "SOS" cut into the lakebed's greenery.
Where can I learn more?
Rising temperatures across the globe are taking their toll on lakes and other bodies of water. Here are some stories that explore shrinking shorelines, dust hazards, restoration efforts, and the broader ecological fallout of warmer weather:
• In Greece, record-breaking summer temperatures have pushed Lake Koronia further into crisis.
• In California, toxic dust from exposed playas is threatening communities around the shrinking Salton Sea.
• Around Lake Chad, drought, vegetation loss, and famine are deepening an already urgent humanitarian crisis.
• In Michoacan, officials scramble to bring Lake Pátzcuaro back after years of severe drought.
• In Kashmir, pollution and neglect mean the lake is nearing extinction, residents warn.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
