A severe drought and record heat in Brazil’s Amazon caused Lake Tefé’s water to reach 41°C (106°F), killing over 150 endangered river dolphins in 2023. Scientists found that the lake’s extreme temperature, low water levels, and lack of wind created deadly conditions for aquatic life. The study shows that Amazon lakes are heating faster than the global average due to climate change, threatening ecosystems and local communities. Researchers warn that such extreme events are becoming more frequent and call for stronger climate action and local involvement. "You couldn't put your finger in the water," said the lead author of the study, which spotlights the impacts of planetary warming on aquatic ecosystems.
