Europe Is Suffering The Worst Drought It's Had In Years, And These Photos Of How Dry It Is Are Actually Blowing My Mind

Europe is currently in the midst of a historic drought. France's Le Monde reports that "many rivers and streams are facing critical, never-before-seen conditions," and that "several nuclear reactors had to be shut down" due to low flow rates. Water levels in the Rhine River have hit their lowest point since 1880. Boats, archaeological remains, and mines are being revealed in the Elbe and the Danube. These 30 photos show just how bad things really are across the continent:

1. Croatia

Sandbanks exposed by the receding waters of the Danube River in Batina.

Another shot of the sandbanks, with a tiny human for scale.

An old sunken ship exposed by the receding waters of the Drava River in Osijek.

2. France

Dry grasses at the foot of the Pravouta peak, an area that usually has abundant rainfall.

Two swans swimming in the bed of Brenets Lake, part of the Doubs River between France and Switzerland.

Corn in a dry field in Clohars-Carnoet.

3. Germany

Boats at the recreational marina in Koblenz-Ehrenbreitstein were left sitting on dry land.

Dried-up pastures in Baden-Württemberg, Oberried.

4. Hungary

Extremely low water levels in the Danube River near Budapest's Liberty Bridge.

The remains of an old World War II-era ship that were exposed by low water levels in the Danube River in Baja.

The Paks Nuclear Power Plant (in the background) is currently operating at minimum output as the Danube's low levels have reduced its cooling capacity.

5. Italy

Sandbanks exposed by the receding waters of the Po River in Mezzana Bigli, near Pavia.

Scorched rice fields in Novara.

The dried riverbed of the Po River near the Diga Michelotti dam in Turin.

6. Netherlands

Exposed riverbanks and houseboats left on dry land in Nijmegen.

A dry football pitch (aka soccer field) in Noorbeek.

Dry farmland near the Waal River in Dodewaard.

7. Poland

The Oder River in Słubice has dropped on the German-Polish border.

A lake with turquoise water that serves as a tourist attraction in Jaworzno is drying up.

8. Serbia

Boats stranded in a marina on the Danube River near Apatin.

More stranded boats on the Danube River, this time near Novi Sad.

A dried-out sunflower field near Kovilj.

9. Slovenia

Low water levels in the Savinja River near Laško.

The Sava River near the Vrhovo hydroelectric plant is extraordinarily low.

A stranded boat in the dry Savinja riverbed near its confluence with the Sava River in Zidani Most.

10. The United Kingdom

A sunbather reading on dead grass in Hyde Park, London, England.

An aerial view of an extremely dry football pitch at Hackney Marshes in London, England.

And finally, dry grass near Cardiff Castle in Cardiff, Wales.

Thoughts on the historic lack of rain across the pond? Let us know in the comments.