Then the drought advanced north.“[1] July brought such an „ember-like heat that churches made prayers while the Rhine, Elbe and Seine could be crossed on a dry foot. Where there was still water, the warm broth acquired a green colour,“ Dead fish floated belly-up. „Water levels in Lake Constance sunk to record low levels, Lindau actually became connected to the mainland. Soon the surface water had completely evaporated, soils broke up, some dry cracks were so wide that a foot would fit into them.“