The drought is draining waterways and snarling the transport of grain exports and supplies that are the region's lifeline.

Brazil's geological service says that one of the Amazon River’s main tributaries has dropped to its lowest level in 122 years, reflecting a severe drought that has devastated the Amazon rainforest and other parts of the country.

(This Sept. 30 story has been corrected to fix a name in the reporting credits)) By Bruno Kelly MANACAPURU, Brazil (Reuters) - The Solimoes, one of the two largest tributaries of the Amazon River in Brazil,

The environmental risks of dredging include ecosystem disruption, increased erosion, water contamination, and harm to aquatic species such as manatees and river dolphins.

One of the Amazon River’s main tributaries has dropped to its lowest level ever recorded Brazil’s geological service said on Friday.

Francisco Mateus da Silva, 67, spent an hour walking across sandbanks and dry riverbeds where he lives in the Amazon to fetch food and water amid the worst drought on record in the region, which has paralyzed river transportation.

Below-average rainfall — even through the rainy season — has plagued the Amazon and much of South America since last year, also feeding the worst wildfires in more than a decade in Brazil and Bolivia.

A major port in the Amazon rainforest is seeing itslowest water level in 122 years due to drought:: Manaus, Brazil::Below-average rainfall - even through the rainy season - has plagued the Amazon and much of South America since last year,

The river port in the Amazon rainforest's largest city of Manaus on Friday hit its lowest level since 1902, as a drought drains waterways and snarls transport of grain exports and essential supplies that are the region's lifeline.