Is global warming causing Italy’s iconic river Po to dry up? Tourism activities affected

Not too long ago, the famous lagoon city of Venice made news due to the city’s lifeline, the canals, drying up. We are seeing something similar happening to the famous River Po, Italy’s longest river.
Also read: Is this the end of gondola rides in Venice?

River Po is the longest in Italy, running approximately 652 km from its source in the Cottian Alps in Piedmont to its mouth at the Adriatic Sea, near Venice. The river is a crucial transportation artery for Italy, and serves as an important source of irrigation for agriculture in the Po Valley.


The Po is also an important habitat for a variety of wildlife, including fish, birds, and mammals. Some of the major cities located along the banks of the Po include Turin, Piacenza, Cremona, and Ferrara. It is safe to say that River Po is a big part of the tourism scene in Italy.


The warmer winters had an adverse effect on the snow fields that normally feed these rivers and lakes in the region. The situation is a little on the drier side this year as a number of tourist destinations on the banks of River Po are facing drought-like conditions, affecting the tourism activities like river cruise and boating.

As per the reports, conditions are so dire that cruise operators may even have to cancel all cruise bookings. Unless the region sees good rainfall soon, an amount good enough to fill the dried up rivers and lakes.


Popular tourist attractions that are based around the river are: lakes Garda and Como, cities like Bolzano, Trento and Turin.