The Mississippi River is experiencing an extreme drought this year, and water levels have gotten low that barges are unable to pass through. The river is a key shipping channel for the U.S. and obviously very ecologically important, too. Water levels are nearly 11 feet below normal in some areas. The Coast Guard has said in a statement that eight barges in the past months have run aground in the river, and they’ve had to dredge canals and lighten shipping loads to get them through. Portions of the river have dried so much that areas which were completely underwater are dry and walkable. Other …
