The drought is draining waterways and snarling the transport of grain exports and supplies that are the region's lifeline.

Brazil's geological service says that one of the Amazon River’s main tributaries has dropped to its lowest level in 122 years, reflecting a severe drought that has devastated the Amazon rainforest and other parts of the country.

The river port in the Amazon rainforest's largest city of Manaus on Friday hit its lowest level since 1902, as a drought drains waterways and snarls transport of grain exports and essential supplies that are the region's lifeline.

Francisco Mateus da Silva, 67, spent an hour walking across sandbanks and dry riverbeds where he lives in the Amazon to fetch food and water amid the worst drought on record in the region, which has paralyzed river transportation.

The environmental risks of dredging include ecosystem disruption, increased erosion, water contamination, and harm to aquatic species such as manatees and river dolphins.

One of the Amazon River's main tributaries has dropped to its lowest level ever recorded, Brazil's geological service said Friday, reflecting a severe drought that has devastated the Amazon rainforest and other parts of the country.

The Solimoes, one of the two largest tributaries of the Amazon River in Brazil, fell to its lowest level ever on Monday in the worst drought on record in the Amazon region, leaving villages on its banks stranded without food,

One of the Amazon River’s main tributaries has dropped to its lowest level ever recorded Brazil’s geological service said on Friday.

Below-average rainfall — even through the rainy season — has plagued the Amazon and much of South America since last year, also feeding the worst wildfires in more than a decade in Brazil and Bolivia.