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Tenerife and Ibiza hit: Drought in popular holiday destinations

11:00
13 March 2024

Tenerife and Ibiza hit
Drought in popular holiday destinations

Church in drought-hit lakeIn Catalonia, Spain, this church in the Sau Reservoir has been exposed as water levels dwindle. - © picture alliance

Planning a summer getaway? You may want to consider the situation in popular destinations first as drought grips.

Tenerife and Ibiza are both in states of severe drought currently. While the state of Catalonia in Spain declared a state of emergency in February amid the region's worst drought on record.

The situation has been exacerbated by one of the driest winters on record. On March 1, officials in Tenerife declared a "drought emergency", limiting water usage with experts suggesting it could be years until water levels recover.

Satellite image showing impact of drought from February 2023 to March 2024.Satellite imagery showing drought in TenerifeSatellite image of filled reservoirDry reservoir
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Satellite imagery of Ibiza and Formentera show the impact of drought from February 2023 to this March. - © European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery

Satellite imagery of Tenerife and Ibiza highlight the loss of green spaces from above as vegetation dries without fresh water.

The lack of water is also impacting the local economy, with farmers unable to irrigate their farmland.

Tenerife has no rivers and very few dams for reservoirs therefore around 80% of the island's water comes from underground sources. To change this, officials are looking at plans to increase water storage capacity.

Drought-hit destinations can uncover some treasures. In 2023, with Italy feeling the impact of drought, receding water levels at Lake Garda uncovered a long-submerged pathway to San Biagio, an islet usually only accessible by boat.

Drought reveals Lake Garda pathwayread more

With spring only just beginning, and summer still months away, the drought situation in Spain and other locations across the Mediterranean is only likely to worsen.

If you are looking for a break away from the UK and Ireland, be sure to double-check the situation before booking.

Ryan Hathaway
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