"Amazon Lakes Transform into Scalding Basins Amid Record Heat and Drought"

In 2023, record heat and drought in Brazil caused lakes in the Amazon, including those around Tefé, to reach scalding temperatures, threatening endangered dolphins and local ecosystems.

• Lakes in the Amazon, particularly near Tefé, experienced dangerous temperature increases due to a severe heat wave and prolonged drought, surpassing safe limits for aquatic life.
• The rising temperature of these lakes, some reaching levels hotter than recommended for hot tubs, has led to a catastrophic decline in local fish populations, further destabilizing the ecosystem.
• Endangered dolphin species in the Amazon are facing dire consequences as their habitat transforms into shallow, simmering basins, exacerbated by the ongoing climate crisis.