CNN —Water levels at Lake Titicaca – the highest navigable lake in the world and South America’s largest – are dropping precipitously after an unprecedented winter heat wave. While water levels are known to fluctuate each year, these changes have become more extreme due to the climate crisis. Communities that rely on fishing are struggling as low water levels adds to mounting problems: declining fish stocks due to pollution and overfishing. “It’s going to keep affecting us, there won’t be any more totora, the islands are deteriorating, that’s what worries us,” Charca told CNN. Grinia Avalos, deputy director for climatology with Senamhi, told CNN that these warmer temperatures are expected to continue until at least February 2024.

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Persons: ”, Nazario Charca, Anton Petrus, Taylor Ward, Sixto Flores, Raldes, Flores, Claudia Morales, Jullian Huattamarca, Juan Karita, Dina Boluarte, Huattamarca, “, Uros, Sergi Reboredo, Charca, It’s, ” Charca, El, Grinia Avalos, Connor Baker Organizations: CNN, Getty, Reuters, El Nino, Crisis, “ Locations: South America’s, Peru, Bolivia, Puno, AFP, Agriculture, Taquile, Peruvian, Lake Titicaca, South America