But drought conditions this summer threaten shipping on the river. But like many Swiss waterways this summer, the Rhine is also falling victim to intense drought caused by a series of heatwaves that have hit Europe in past months. Drought conditions are on the verge of halting shipping on the Rhine, with water levels upstream at Kaub, Germany, dropping extremely low. Boats will therefore be unable to navigate this critical stretch of the river, a situation that will have serious consequences for the Swiss economy. “These figures show how important Rhine shipping is for supplying the country,” the government stated.