Video: Moss-covered rocks near Vittorio Emanuele Bridge are the remains of a pier in rome that once supported the so-called "Nero Bridge," named after the famous Roman emperor.
(LaPresse) As Italy faces its worst drought in seventy years, the lack of rainfall in Rome has brought ancient ruins to the surface in the Tiber River. These moss-covered rocks near Vittorio Emanuele Bridge are the remains of a Roman pier that once supported the so-called “Nero Bridge,” named after the famous Roman emperor.
The ruins emerged this summer as the water level of the Tiber River gradually lowered. For the time being, the usual Roman car traffic whizzes over the bridge and tourists flock to Rome’s well-known monuments, leaving this piece of ancient history to the seagulls.
Drought has caused an increase in algae on the Tiber, and low water levels also reveal waste being dumped into the river. The Italian government has declared a state of emergency in several regions due to the prolonged drought and accompanying heat wave. Drought conditions have already caused billions of euros in losses to farmers who rely on the river to irrigate fields and rice paddies.
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