Before and after: Favorite European vacation destinations become unrecognizable

Western Europe is not only dealing with record-breaking heat this summer, the region is also facing an intense drought. Satellite imagery shows just how drastically the dry conditions have changed the landscape.

The lush, green landscapes of some of Europe's most iconic and picturesque vacation destinations have turned brown and brittle, and water levels of the region's rivers are running low.

The Danube River is running so low that several nuclear reactors along its banks have been shut down, removing a major source of energy for several countries as demand increases due to the extreme temperatures.

Weather in your inbox

Forecast Location

Sign Up

By signing up you agree to the Terms & Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe at any time.

Dozens of World War II-era German battleships have been revealed along the Danube's banks in Serbia.

Germany's Rhine River hit record-breaking low levels this summer, stranding boats and straining the shipping industry that relies on the river for transportation.

Sara Tonks is a content meteorologist with weather.com and has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Georgia Tech in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, along with a master’s degree from Unity Environmental University in Marine Science.

Get More of Our News on Google

Set The Weather Company as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value.