 |
LATIN AMERICA |
| |
Caracas Suffers Worst Drought Since 1947
CARACAS – The Venezuelan capital is
suffering its worst drought since 1947 as is
much of the country, forcing the authorities
to introduce water rationing.
Environmentalist Erik Quiroga told Efe on
Tuesday that until Oct. 22 only 508.8
millimeters (20 inches) of rain had fallen
in Caracas, the lowest amount since 1947.
Quiroga said that the figures were provided
by the Cagigal Naval Observatory, the
nation’s chief meteorological center, which
began keeping records in 1891.
The severity of the drought became more
obvious, according to Quiroga, during the
months of October, which had the least rain
in 118 years, and June, the driest in 115
years.
Venezuela has seasonal precipitation with a
rainy season from May to October and a dry
season from October to May, though the
pattern can be modified by environmental
factors such as El Niño, a climatic
phenomenon that brings radical changes in
the amount of rainfall.
Quiroga promoted the creation of
International Day for the Preservation of
the Ozone Layer, approved in 1995 by the
U.N. General Assembly and observed since
then every Sept. 16. EFE
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
