Elbe falls to 80-year-low water level in Germany

BERLIN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Elbe River has fallen to the lowest water level in over 80 years, the German Press Agency reported Thursday citing a new record of 45 centimeters measured in Germany's Magdeburg.

According to the water and shipping authorities of Magdeburg, previously, the lowest water level at the same point was 48 centimeters on July 22, 1934.

Shipping on the Elbe has long been almost completely stopped, and it is very difficult to predict when operations on the Elbe can resume.

Germany had experienced an extreme heat wave this summer, combined with a pronounced drought. Shipping on major German waterways have been affected.