Spain

The terrain is so dry, all it takes is one spark to set off an inferno. The worst forest fires since records began are raging in Spain. In Valencia, Alicante and Murcia, firefighting teams are working nonstop. Thousands of residents and tourists have had to be evacuated. The tourist regions of Andalusia in the south and Catalonia and Aragon in the northeast have been hit particularly hard.

France

In France, too, the drought has reached historic dimensions. Fires have ignited all over the country, including in the Gironde area on the Atlantic coast, a popular holiday area. Campsites are ablaze, thousands of tourists have been evacuated and highways have been closed. The 1,000-year-old forest on the famous Dune de Pilat near Arcachon has also fallen victim to the flames.

Portugal

The Algarve is a tourist hot spot. Hotel pools, unlimited showers — tourism consumes vital water reserves. But Portugal lives off tourists. It's a dilemma, because there's an extreme drought in the country and thus a shortage of water. Hotels in the Algarve are also expected to reduce their consumption. Exactly how remains an open question. And so, for now, tourists continue to splash around.

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Austria

With temperatures at over 39 degrees Celsius (102 Fahrenheit), tourists in Vienna enjoy cooling off under a mister. One of Europe's greenest major cities has also been hit hard by climate change, as heat accumulates disproportionately here. The city has therefore launched a heat action plan — which includes misting showers as well as "cooling zones," drinking fountains and even more trees.

Greece

Dramas are unfolding on the mainland, near Athens or on the vacation islands of Crete or Lesbos, as seen here. A fire on Lesbos spread to the seaside resort of Vatera at the end of July; people sought refuge on the beach and were rescued by the coast guard. The threat is still acute throughout the country, as Greece is only halfway through the fire season.

Croatia

Tourists who booked a guided tour of Dubrovnik felt the heat as they walked through the city sizzling at 43 degrees Celsius (109 Fahrenheit). Everywhere in Europe's holiday regions, service providers are trying to keep the tourists happy. They, in return, are doing their best to ignore the extreme weather and its consequences.

The Netherlands

In Amsterdam, people are fleeing to the sea to escape the heat — or to the Amstel River. But in the Netherlands, too, a drought is causing problems for the rivers. Water levels are falling everywhere and salty seawater is penetrating the waterways. The even bigger concern, however, are the dikes that protect 60% of the land area from flooding. They are far too dry and are becoming unstable.

Italy

The extreme weather is deforming landscapes. One of the major tourist sites in northern Italy, Lake Garda, has recorded its lowest water level in 15 years. Bare rock is appearing around the Sirmione Peninsula. Tourists don't recognize their beaches, and entire bathing bays are disappearing. Tourism officials have stressed that vacations are still possible — but can they still be carefree?

Switzerland

Protective sheets have been spread over last winter's ice. Nevertheless, for the first time in 2,000 years, the Col de Zanfleuron, part of the Glacier 3000 ski area, is almost free of ice. Glaciologists expect that by the end of September, only bare rock will be left. As recently as 2012, the ice here was 15 meters (49 ft) thick. The meltwater will form a lake — as it has elsewhere in the Alps.

United Kingdom

This is London? The parks are dry as dust and yellow instead of green. People are rare in the metropolis' parks, usually considered an oasis — it's too hot. Temperatures hit the 40-degree (104 Fahrenheit) mark as early as July. The UK declared a weather emergency, followed in August by a drought emergency in large parts of the country: no filling swimming pools, no watering lawns, no washing cars.

Germany

The Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is always a magnet for visitors. But the Rhine has narrowed, its level sinking to below 40 cm (16 inches) in some sections. Freighters can only operate with reduced cargo. Passenger ships have also been restricted, with ferries services suspended. River trips are canceled, and residents and vacationers are forced to make detours.

Author Anne Termèche

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