Tourists arriving in Lake Garda this weekend were greeted by sections of underwater rock that extend far from the waterline. “We came last year, we liked it and we came back this year,” said tourist Beatrice Masi as she sat on the rocks. “We found that the landscape had changed a lot. We were a bit shocked when we arrived because we went for our usual walk and the water wasn’t there.” Northern Italy has not seen significant rainfall for months, and snowfall this year has fallen by 70%, drying up important waterways. Many European countries – including Spain, Germany, Portugal, France and the Netherlands – are also experiencing droughts this summer that have crippled their agricultural and shipping industries and prompted authorities to limit water use. In France, drought has forced the first stoppage of production of a famous cheese that has been made for more than 2,000 years. People sunbathing on the exposed rocks on the shore of the lake. Tourists were shocked by the noticeably changed appearance of the coastline. AP With Post cables
