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

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.

A major port in the Amazon rainforest is seeing itslowest water level in 122 years due to drought:: Manaus, Brazil::Below-average rainfall - even through the rainy season - has plagued the Amazon and much of South America since last year,

A drone view shows boats stranded on the Rio Negro as the river reached its lowest point in its history during the most intense and widespread drought the country has experienced since records began in 1950,

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 Friday, reflecting a severe drought that has devastated the Amazon rainforest and other parts of the country.

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.