Drought in the Basel region in 2026
- Adrian Wirz
- Aug 9
- 7 min read
Since the end of May, we've been hit by one heat wave after another. Now, at the beginning of August, heat wave number five is about to begin. We still have two or three cool nights left to breathe in some fresh, cool air. The fish in the streams of Upper Basel-Landschaft can't anymore... the water has dried up.
It's now undeniable that climate change is in full swing. Yes, I know, 1291 and 1947 were also incredibly hot... but I have no connection to that.
Of course, I've noticed that glacier posts are back in full swing, and everyone's wagging their finger at the melting glaciers! I'd like to see someone show me a photo of their bike after cycling up a mountain pass to photograph melting glaciers. But for 99% of these "glacier post" types, the car is parked at the summit. I think everyone understands what's going on... As a nature photographer, you want to show that you're concerned about the melting glaciers. Very often, it's simply mentioned because others are doing it too. But of course, it's also about clickbait (clickbait refers to sensational headlines or preview images on the internet . They're designed to pique curiosity so that as many people as possible click on a link or like the photo). I already wrote a blog post about melting glaciers during the last drought in 2022. Or here's another one about clickbait .
This panorama clearly shows the extent of the drought damage in the Basel region. The photo was taken in the evening of August 6, 2026; only a few green patches remain, these are cornfields. The next photo shows the area around Buus, with the Leimen farm in the foreground.
Over the past few weeks, I've often been out in the evenings on my e-bike or moped, partly to document this drought in photographs. I've also spoken with several farmers. They all said they'd never experienced anything like it. But the federal government is now taking action by paying out all the direct payments to farmers, even if not all the conditions are met. In this photo, you can see Rickenbach in the foreground and Gelterkinden and the second Jura mountain range behind it.
This photo shows the plateau near Anwil
Here is the area around Oltingen and Schafmatt is in the upper right.
The situation around Zeglingen is no better; everything is parched here too!
Of course, these aren't exactly stunning photos, but that was never the intention. As a photographer, I don't just want to take the most beautiful and best, or the most vibrant and eye-catching photos. I wanted to document an event like this drought and heatwave from the very beginning. Very often, I did this "only" with my phone or a drone. A photo from 2021 perfectly symbolizes the heat and drought, even though the summer of 2021 was actually one of the wetter ones.
I remember passing this tree on an e-bike tour and imagining what it would look like at sunrise. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out. But then I remembered the photo of the dead trees in Namibia. That's how this photo got the same look, except it was taken in the Basel region.
I've already written about the cornfields in the Upper Basel region elsewhere: Grain Fields in the Basel Region . There's something I didn't mention in that blog post: how reckless I was back then, trying to get an almost perfect photo. Around midday, when I looked out of my apartment window, I saw beautiful storm clouds forming in the area where this walnut tree stands. I really wanted to capture them in a photo along with the walnut tree and the barley field. Around midday, I was ready to go; the thermometer read 34 degrees Celsius. I knew from the start that I would be riding my e-mountain bike. I hurried to get the first 300 meters of elevation gain over with as quickly as possible. Even on the ascent, I saw on my Apple Watch that my heart rate was about 30-40 beats per minute higher than on other days on this mountain. That was clearly a result of the intense heat. Normally, after the first big climb, I take a short break by a beautiful linden tree with a view. Not this time, though; I was in a hurry because of the beautiful clouds. The trail led briefly through the woods, then down the other side and back up again, but only about 100 meters of elevation gain. By the time I reached the tree, my thirst was almost unbearable. But first, a few photos of the scene. Then I finally took a short break and reached for my bottle... but my hand found nothing, and the same was true for the second compartment where the second drink should have been. Both bottles have happily settled comfortably in the kitchen at home, nice and full. So this photoshoot was short-lived, as I had to find some water! Luckily, I found some at a farm with a farm shop... rarely has this cool water been as welcome as it was back in June, during the first heatwave. Heatwave number 5 starts on Monday.
Not as often as in other years, but I did occasionally ride my e-mountain bike in the Jura mountains. Very often I felt like I was somewhere in the steppe. The following photos were created with AI; I used Google's Gemini for this.
Picture below: One of my favorite spots on the Schafmatt above Oltingen/BL.
On the Upper Pasture above Farnsburg
A cow on Zeglinger Berg, with a view towards the Bölchen region
A rhinoceros on Zeglinger Berg
Zebras in the Wenslingen steppe
But water still flows in the Basel region, not in the streams, but there is a basin from the 1920s or 1930s where water still flows.
This used to be a pool for a children's home, which has long since been demolished. This pool was also intended as a reservoir for firefighting water in case of a fire broke out on the surrounding farms. But these days, the fire department handles things differently. I was often at this idyllic spot, but I think when you look at the photo, you'll understand why I didn't dare take a dip! I hope you enjoyed looking at the AI photos! Oh yes, did you look at one of the photos for a while and wonder if it was really AI? Of course, you're right, the cow is real! Below are some AI photos that will hopefully give you something to think about. But first, a little story... just a short one... A few days ago, a violent thunderstorm raged in the Basel region in the evening. The next day, I was out on my e-mountain bike, heading towards Farnsburg. Forest workers were using chainsaws on a narrow hiking trail. A mighty beech tree blocked the path. I got talking to one of the forest workers and asked what had happened. He pointed to a shattered tree trunk and said a lightning strike had felled the beech tree. Naturally, I was curious whether such a lightning strike could have started a forest fire. He confirmed that it could and said, "Well, we're glad nothing worse happened." I'm thinking of the devastating forest fires in Spain, France, and Greece. AI helped me with the following photos, so you can see what a forest fire in this region might look like from above. Photos from the Bölchen.
Below are a few mobile phone photos from the Upper Basel region.
Finally, here are a few AI-generated photos that will hopefully never become reality. For a long time, I wondered whether such photos weren't disrespectful, considering the devastating forest fires in Europe. I have no intention of wagging a finger and lecturing others; many others are already doing that: just look at the glacier postmen. No, I think if even one cigarette is prevented from being thrown away thanks to such photos, then these AI experiments will have achieved something. Let's be glad we've been spared forest fires so far and hope it stays that way. As mentioned above: Heatwave 5.0 is on its way.
Finally, a word about clickbait. Yes, the cover photo also leans in that direction. I hope it remains an exception. But as Konrad Adenauer once said—you know the saying? No? Then I'll gladly repeat it for you: Konrad Adenauer was the first German Chancellor after World War II. If someone said to him, "...but yesterday you said something completely different...", Adenauer would reply, "What do I care about what I said yesterday!" Yes, this saying is becoming increasingly popular among photographers, especially at workshops. What was f/32 yesterday might be f/1.8 today. With that in mind, stay cool during this heatwave, and treat yourself to a refreshing dip...
If you haven't subscribed to my blog yet, feel free to do so. You won't find any picture-perfect blogs here with just "enjoy reading" content; my blogs are substantial, serious, and sometimes funny. PS: What was that about the tiger mosquito again? Don't they only really thrive at temperatures above 28 degrees Celsius? I read in a Facebook post from the lower Basel region that they're quite common there, or rather, that you can have a painful encounter with them. There was a news report recently about someone who returned to Switzerland with dengue fever. As a result, the entire surrounding area was treated to prevent any tiger mosquitoes from getting near that person.
Yes, the tiger mosquito can spread this virus. Why do we hear so little about these creatures these days, except from people who have been bitten? Apparently, they are thriving and multiplying rapidly. For now, only in the lower part of the canton. Will we be spending the next few summers under mosquito nets? Or are they already working on a vaccine? You can subscribe to the newsletter at the very bottom of this page!
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