Mud cracks at Thirlmere reservoir in the Lake District UK, with a hosepipe ban in affect

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Thirlmere reservoir in the Lake District UK, the day before the hosepipe ban comes into affect in the North West. United Utilities applied for the drought order, after the driest start to the year since 1929, with less than 50% of normal rainfall. The drought comes hot on the heals of the worst floods that Cumbria has ever seen, when in November 2009, United Utilities had to open the emergency valves to let water out, as the dam was in danger of collapsing when the water reached unprecendented high levels. Climate modelling shows that as the atmosphere warms we are more likely to move to a cycle of flood followed by drought.

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Size: 4367px × 2911px
Photo credit: © Ashley Cooper / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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