Rhine Falls to 19 Centimeters at Kaub, Disrupting Shipping Across Germany

3 articles · Updated · DW (English) · Aug 17

Kaub's Rhine gauge hit 19 centimeters on Aug. 5—briefly 18 cm—pushing cargo ships to sail only partially loaded and worsening weeks of disruption on Germany's main inland trade route.
Record-low water at Kaub matters most because the river narrows into a rocky bottleneck there; further declines could stop large freighters entirely between the upper and lower Rhine.
Near Bonn, water has fallen to 74 centimeters in places, drying stretches between Bornheim-Hersel and the Herseler Werth reserve and leaving boats and docks stranded on exposed riverbed.
Low water is also halting some ferries, adding road congestion and long jams, especially around Bonn where a major Rhine bridge rebuild is already straining traffic.
Exposed riverbeds near Bingen are drawing visitors and cleanup crews alike, as drought reveals normally submerged embankments and debris along the river.