Nazi ships, mammoth bones emerge as Danube River dries up

Core Impact Points

• The Danube River's water levels have dropped so low that dozens of World War II German battleships and ancient woolly mammoth remains are emerging into view.
• The ships, some still laden with weapons, belonged to Nazi Germany's Black Sea fleet that was deliberately sunk as they retreated from Romania and as Soviet forces advanced deeper into Europe near the end of the war.
• The low water levels have forced power plants to the brink of shutting down, and governments across Central and Eastern Europe are taking steps to conserve electricity.
• Historians say up to 200 German warships were scuttled in September 1944 near Prahovo in the Danube gorge as they came under Soviet fire.
• The sight of the old warships is a reminder that the Serbian government, with European Union financial support, has long been trying to do something about them.
• The low water levels have almost stopped ship traffic on the Danube, which flows through 10 nations, creating dangerous conditions.