Record-Low Danube Water Levels Expose Nazi Warships, Bombs, and Mammoth Bones

The Danube River is experiencing unprecedented low water levels, attributed to drought and heatwaves, which have unearthed both historical artifacts and dangers. Near Prahovo, Serbia, World War II Nazi warships and approximately 200 boats scuttled in the fall of 1944 have emerged, hindering navigation and resulting in an annual cost of $5.75 million for Serbia. In 2024, Serbia, in collaboration with the European Investment Bank, began the process of removing 21 ships while crews navigated around leftover munitions. Additionally, a vessel believed to have sunk in 1937 surfaced in Opatovac, Croatia. In Budapest, a bridge was closed due to the discovery of a WWII bomb. Meanwhile, Bulgaria reported the finding of woolly mammoth remains. The low water levels pose risks to nuclear facilities in Hungary and Romania and led to a cruise ship grounding. The Danube traverses 10 nations.