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Europe is experiencing water shortages. A region in Italy has its worst drought for 70 years. This is because of almost no rainfall in the past four months and less snow in winter. The water level of Italy's largest river, the Po, is three metres lower than average. This has fully exposed a World War II shipwreck. If it doesn't rain soon, there'll be a serious water shortage. This will mean water rationing. Farmers will have problems finding water for irrigation.
The River Po gets much of its water from a lake in the Alps. The lake has had its lowest water levels since 1946. High temperatures are making things worse. A farmer from a rural town near Milan said she is expecting a "disastrous" and "catastrophic" year. She added: "We believe that there will be a drop in wheat productivity by at least 20 per cent." The Po Valley will see a 30 to 40% fall in fruit and vegetable production.
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