A severe drought in Sicily has nearly dried up the Mediterranean island's only natural lake, which has long served as a vital resting station for birds migrating between Africa and Europe. Scientists say a lethal mix of hot weather and months of below-average rainfall is to blame.

Pergusa Lake

Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently amid rising sea-levels and increasing temperatures.

Climate Crisis

Sicily's Only Natural Lake is Rapidly Disappearing

A severe drought in Sicily has almost entirely dried up the island's only natural lake, Lake Pergusa, a crucial resting spot for migratory birds traveling between Africa and Europe. According to scientists, a combination of extreme heat and prolonged below-average rainfall has led to the near disappearance of the lake. Giuseppe Maria Amato of the environmental group Le Gambiente highlights that the lake is now largely underground, with only a minuscule puddle remaining.

Lake Pergusa, typically spanning just under a square mile, has been an emblem of beauty and resurgence, as described in Roman poet Ovid's Metamorphoses. However, the island is now facing the consequences of climate change, including high temperatures and water scarcity. Italy's government has declared a state of emergency on the island due to insufficient rainfall, which has severely impacted agriculture.

Sicily recorded a European heat record in 2021 with temperatures soaring to 119 degrees Fahrenheit. Water rationing has been implemented in several towns. The average temperature in the Mediterranean region has increased by 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 150 years, affecting the delicate ecological balance.

Lake Pergusa's decline serves as a stark indicator of the broader impact of climate change on Sicily. The drying of the lake means hundreds of bird species will lose a critical stopover point during migration. Climate specialist Luigi Pasotti raises concerns about Sicily’s future if the dry conditions persist, warning of potentially catastrophic consequences if the lake does not replenish in the coming months.



Sicily's only natural lake is disappearing

This is what remains of Sicily's only natural lake. Lake Pergusa has been hit hard by severe drought. Scientists say a lethal mix of hot weather and months of below-average rainfall is to blame. Giuseppe Maria Amato with the environmental group Le Gambiente says the lake is disappearing. GIUSEPPE MARIA AMATO, Environmental Group Le Gambiente, Sicily, said, The lake is no longer there. The part of the water that was visible has completely disappeared, apart from this puddle that we have here, which will be about a hundredth of the size of the lake. Everything else is underground, in the water table. What little is left in the water table. So the lake, in fact, as a lake, is no more. This is what it used to look like. Lake Pergusa's surface is usually just under a square mile. In the Roman poet Ovid's Metamorphoses, it is described as a place of beauty and eternal spring. Now, Sicily is grappling with climate change-related high temperatures. Italy's government has declared a state of emergency over the low rainfall on the island that's devastated crops and pastures. Sicily set a European heat record in 2021 when temperatures reached 119 degrees Fahrenheit. Some towns had to start water rationing. The average temperature in the Mediterranean area is now 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit higher than 150 years ago. Lake Pergusa is an indicator of what Sicily is suffering due to climate change. We knew and we said it, this will be the first place in Sicily where we realize that something is happening. And that is what we see before our eyes. The lake has long served as a vital resting station for migratory birds between Africa and Europe. Amato says now hundreds of species will not be able to rest here. In the last 12 months, under 10 inches of rain fell on Sicily, according to climate specialist Luigi Pasotti. He's worried about Sicily's future if the region remains dry. We are now living in an emergency situation. The total drying up and a failure to replenish the water in the autumn would be truly catastrophic. We have to recognize that climate change is having an impact. It is beginning to cause irreversible damage.

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