I have mentioned in the past that we live about 10 minutes walk from the Rhine falls. Well, after we moved it became about 15 minutes, but who's counting, right? We live in Neuhausen am Rheinfall since 2016, and I like to say that we know the city inside out. In the past, we used to go to the Rhine falls regularly as it was a beautiful walk from our home, but with time we slowly lost interest. I'm embarrassed to say that these days we only get to walk there when we have visitors and want to show them around. Life happens and there is not enough time to do everything, so we have to prioritise.
A couple of weeks ago we met some new people, and when we mentioned where we live they told that they went to see the waterfall a few days back and that they were horrified with what they say. The water level is at its lowest since the measurement started I don't even know how many years ago. It is alarming as the river is so important not only for us, but for all the countries that is is flowing through. Of course, we had to see it with our own eyes, so the next day we went on a walk, and realized that they didn't exaggerate.
There are two large rocks in the middle of the waterfall where you can get by a boat which we never did because it looks too wobbly to me, but now you can even walk to reach them! I was so sad to see it. Of course it's blocked and you can't walk there because it's still too dangerous, but seeing those rocks bare was a terrifying sight to us as we know the river at its strongest.
All this is normally under water even when it's a dry year. The water level is so low that it uncovered places that haven't been uncovered for many years.
There are still boats coming to the rocks, but you can see that you could easily walk to them from this side. Looking at the photo I have just realized that we didn't even hear the waterfall on the way. Normally, you can hear it even in the city as it's so strong.
Can you see that covered place down on the back (on the right side)? You can't normally see this place as it's hidden behind the water from this side. The waterfall is usually so close that you can even touch it.
Imagine that all this should be under water. They even started some renovation work as it's probably easier when they don't have to block the water.
If you've never been to this place you might consider it beautiful on these photos, but when I look at them it really makes me sad. I kept saying all summer that it hasn't been that hot and dry since I'm in Switzerland and this is the proof that I was right all along.
I was also thinking about these people who were looking forward to this trip and all they got was just a fraction of the experience that they would have gotten even last year.
The canton Schaffhausen is one of the driest regions in Switzerland (which I only learned recently) and if it continues like this we might face food shortages in the future. Yes, of course there is a lot of import, but we prefer to support small local businesses.
Most people didn't seem to be bothered by the low water level and happily took photos of everything around them. I promised myself to come down here more often in the hope that when I will come next time the waterfall will be a bit fuller and stronger.
Every time I see something like this I think that we should be more present and cautious about what is happening around us. Very often we live in a blissful ignorance, but it's good to be brought back to the reality.
Thank you for reading and see you next time!