People, animals and fish who depend on the waterways connected to the Amazon River close to the Brazilian city of Manaus are facing a long period of dry weather. The city’s port is an important economic area for northern Brazil. But recently, the water level of the area where the Amazon and Rio Negro rivers meet reached a very low level. The civil defense agency in Amazonas state said the drought is hurting over 400,000 people. Those who have floating homes or use boats to move around on the river for work cannot travel. They cannot get fuel, food or fresh water. Animals and fish along the river are dying. Thousands of dead fish float on the water's surface. A number of river dolphins died when they washed up on land. Dolphins are rare water mammals that live in Brazil’s biggest rivers.
