Falling Danube water levels reveal beach in Serbia, mammoth remains in Bulgaria

The drop in the Danube River's water level in Serbia and Bulgaria exposed sand islands in Novi Sad and led to the discovery of prehistoric mammoth remains in Ruse.

Scraper SystemAugust 01, 2026, 11:50 AM

Falling Danube water levels reveal beach in Serbia, mammoth remains in Bulgaria

The falling water level of the Danube in Serbia and Bulgaria has had varied consequences. As sand islands surfaced in Novi Sad, Serbia, with the receding waters, locals turned them into a beach, while some boats became stuck in the mud.

The Serbian Hydrometeorological Institute announced that the water level in the river passing through Novi Sad dropped by another 2 centimeters in a day and the decline continues day by day. Serbian media reported that the low water level negatively affected electricity production and brought irrigation activities to a halt in some areas.

The Serbian Meteorological Office, meanwhile, announced that the country has entered a new heatwave, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius. Experts warned that the heat, expected to persist, will push the river's water level even lower.

On the Bulgarian side, the low water level led to restrictions on ship traffic. The Danube River Research and Maintenance Administration stated that shipping continues but temporary limits have been placed on cargo quantity and navigation channel width in critical areas.

The receding waters also uncovered prehistoric remains in the Ruse region. Near the village of Ryahovo, remains believed to belong to a woolly mammoth were found during work carried out by experts from the Ruse Historical Museum. The finds, consisting of a lower jawbone, thighbone fragments, teeth and numerous bone fragments, are thought to possibly belong to a young mammoth that lived about 10,000 years ago. It is believed the remains may have accumulated in the wetland area or been transported by water.

Falling Danube water levels reveal beach in Serbia, mammoth remains in Bulgaria

The drop in the Danube River's water level in Serbia and Bulgaria exposed sand islands in Novi Sad and led to the discovery of prehistoric mammoth remains in Ruse.