Visitors walk over a bridge as dry cliffs are seen along the parched gorge on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, Zambia, following a prolonged drought, December 5, 2019. Picture taken December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

Spray rises up in the distance along the parched gorge on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, Zambia, December 5, 2019. Picture taken December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

Spray rises up in the distance along the parched gorge on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, Zambia, December 5, 2019. Picture taken December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

Parched land is pictured around the Lake Wegnia, in Sahel region of Koulikoro, Mali November 22, 2019. Picture taken November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Arouna Sissoko

Reduced to a string of stagnant mustard-coloured pools, fouled in places with pesticide runoff and stinking with the rotting carcasses of cattle and fish, the Darling River is running dry. The parched earth of Australia's longest waterway, if tributaries are included, is in the grip of the continent's most severe drought in a century. At Menindee, 830 km west of Sydney, despair has turned to anger as residents blame the government for exacerbating the drought by drawing down river water in 2017 for irrigation and other uses downstream. Locals now avoid using tap water for drinking and washing babies and children, saying it has caused skin irritation, and prefer boxed and bottled water instead. REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy SEARCH "NEARMY DROUGHT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Matching text: AUSTRALIA-DROUGHT/RIVER TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A field is sprinkled with the remnants of cotton after a harvest in Trangie, Australia, September 4, 2019. The parched earth of Australia's longest waterway, if tributaries are included, is in the grip of the continent's most severe drought in a century. Drought is weighing on economic growth, and the dire conditions have prompted Australia, a major wheat exporter, to import the grain for the first time in 12 years. REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy SEARCH "NEARMY DROUGHT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Reduced to a string of stagnant mustard-coloured pools, fouled in places with pesticide runoff and stinking with the rotting carcasses of cattle and fish, the Darling River is running dry. The parched earth of Australia's longest waterway, if tributaries are included, is in the grip of the continent's most severe drought in a century. At Menindee, 830 km west of Sydney, despair has turned to anger as residents blame the government for exacerbating the drought by drawing down river water in 2017 for irrigation and other uses downstream. Locals now avoid using tap water for drinking and washing babies and children, saying it has caused skin irritation, and prefer boxed and bottled water instead. REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy SEARCH "NEARMY DROUGHT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Matching text: AUSTRALIA-DROUGHT/RIVER TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A dog drinks water at a fountain on a hot summer day in Brussels, Belgium, July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Yves Herman

A dog drinks water at a fountain on a hot summer day in Brussels, Belgium, July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Yves Herman

A dog drinks water at a fountain during a hot summer day in Brussels, Belgium, July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Yves Herman

A dog licks a popsicle during an annual gay pride parade in Jerusalem June 6, 2019. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A woman draws water from a well in Petit-Bassam neighbourhood of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, March 21, 2019. REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon

The carcass of a cow is seen at a ranch as the Caribbean nation endures its worst drought in 30 years, in Santiago Rodriguez, Dominican Republic March 16, 2019. Picture taken March 16, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Rojas

A man puts empty bottles of water into a a truck in Caracas, Venezuela March 13, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso

As wildfires scorched California yet again this summer, Jose Dariush Leal da Costa, a Bay Area native with Portuguese roots, was harvesting his first almonds in a sun-drenched, watery oasis in southern Portugal. The largest artificial lake in the European Union, the 250 sq km (97 sq miles) Alqueva, irrigates an area the size of Los Angeles, luring foreign investors at a time when climate change is fanning droughts from California to northern Europe. European fruit growers, Spanish olive oil makers, almond and berry farmers from California and Chile, and many others are moving in to rival local farmers on these irrigated lands, whose prices soared by 50 percent in the past five years. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. Matching text: PORTUGAL-LAKE/BUSINESS

Farmer Bento Carreto strokes a calf at his farm near Pias, Portugal, August 9, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A cow eats grass at an intensive farm near Evora, Portugal, August 9, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Beekeeper Helder Martins looks at a hive on a farm where his bees pollinate the trees near Pias, Portugal, August 10, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A horse eats grass next to an old irrigation canal near Evora, Portugal, August 9, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Stacks of straw stand on a farm near Beja, Portugal, August 12, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Stacks of straw wrapped in plastic stand on a farm near Beja, Portugal, August 9, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Carmona, owner of a small farm, leaves his shed where he keeps tools and tractors, near Pias, Portugal, August 9, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Boxes are stacked on an olive plantation near Portel, Portugal, August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Men talk as they drink at the Pica Chourico tavern in Pias, Portugal, August 9, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Old men play cards on a street in Amieira, Portugal, August 9, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Old men play cards on a street in Amieira, Portugal, August 9, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A man waits for sunset at a viewpoint at Alqueva reservoir, the largest artificial lake in the EU, near Monsaraz, Portugal, August 8, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

People spend time on the beach at Alqueva reservoir, the largest artificial lake in the EU, near Monsaraz, Portugal, August 8, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

An agricultural gasoline pump stands at an abandoned petrol station at Alqueva region, Portugal, August 12, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A street is illuminated at sunset in Monsaraz, Portugal, August 8, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A view shows a cereal intensive farm near Monsaraz, Portugal, August 8, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

An aerial view of a cereal intensive farm near Monsaraz, Portugal, August 8, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY.

Sheep graze on a farm near Monsaraz, Portugal, August 8, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Hoses for irrigation systems are stacked before being installed in an intensive olive plantation near Portel, Portugal, August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Rows of sunflowers are seen on a cereal intensive farm near Portel, Portugal, August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY.

An old shoe is seen in an intensive olive plantation near Portel, Portugal, August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A woman prunes a peach tree on an intensive farm at Alqueva region, Portugal, August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A worker checks the irrigation hoses on an olive plantation near Portel, Portugal, August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Intensive farmer Jose Dariush Leal da Costa poses for a portrait at his almond tree plantation near Portel, Portugal, August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A woman prunes a peach tree on an intensive farm at Alqueva region, Portugal, August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A tree stands in a field at an intensive farm near Monsaraz, Portugal, August 8, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Two fields are seen at a farm near Portel, Portugal, August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Water levels create different colours on the dam at the Alqueva reservoir, the largest artificial lake in the EU, near Alqueva, Portugal, August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

As wildfires scorched California yet again this summer, Jose Dariush Leal da Costa, a Bay Area native with Portuguese roots, was harvesting his first almonds in a sun-drenched, watery oasis in southern Portugal. The largest artificial lake in the European Union, the 250 sq km (97 sq miles) Alqueva, irrigates an area the size of Los Angeles, luring foreign investors at a time when climate change is fanning droughts from California to northern Europe. European fruit growers, Spanish olive oil makers, almond and berry farmers from California and Chile, and many others are moving in to rival local farmers on these irrigated lands, whose prices soared by 50 percent in the past five years. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. Matching text: PORTUGAL-LAKE/BUSINESS

A view of Alqueva reservoir, the largest artificial lake in the EU, near Alqueva, Portugal, August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Two youths relax at the Alqueva reservoir, the largest artificial lake in the EU, near Alqueva, Portugal, August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A view shows Alqueva reservoir, the largest artificial lake in the EU, near Monsaraz, Portugal, August 8, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A cereal plantation is seen on an intensive farm near Evora, Portugal, August 8, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A view of Alqueva reservoir, the largest artificial lake in the EU, at sunset near Monsaraz, Portugal, August 8, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante SEARCH "MARCHANTE ALQUEVA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A menu board at Sydney's Old Fitzroy Hotel displays the slogan 'Parma for a Farmer', meaning that sales of the dish of fried crumbed chicken topped with tomato sauce and melted cheese, called parmagiana or parma for short, will result in proceeds going to farmers in Australia's parched interior for drought relief, in Sydney, Australia, August 9, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray

A kitchen workere can be seen next to a menu board at Sydney's Old Fitzroy Hotel displaying the slogan 'Parma for a Farmer', meaning that sales of the dish of fried crumbed chicken topped with tomato sauce and melted cheese, called parmagiana or parma for short, will result in proceeds going to farmers in Australia's parched interior for drought relief, in Sydney, Australia, August 9, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray

James Martin, chef at Sydney's Old Fitzroy Hotel, explains to customers next to a menu board about the dish of fried crumbed chicken topped with tomato sauce and melted cheese, called parmagiana or parma for short, and how proceeds from their order will go to farmers in Australia's parched interior for drought relief, in Sydney, Australia, August 9, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray

A wasp drinks water in a fountain in Ronda, southern Spain, as temperatures soar across Europe, August 3, 2018. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

A kangaroo drinks from a water tank located in a drought-effected paddock on farmer Ash Whitney's property, located west of the town of Gunnedah in north-western New South Wales, in Australia, June 3, 2018. Picture taken June 3, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A couple relax on deckchairs on parched grass in Hyde Park in London, Britain, July 20, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville

A woman relaxes on a deckchair on parched grass in Hyde Park in London, Britain, July 20, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Women relax on deckchairs on parched grass in Hyde Park in London, Britain, July 20, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville

A woman relaxes on a deckchair on parched grass in Hyde Park in London, Britain, July 20, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville