Rivers run dry as summer heats up
Multiple river cruises have been canceled because of extremely low Danube water levels. Some of ship operator Uniworld’s passengers are stuck in the German town of Vilshofen, near Passau. Another cruise set to depart Sunday won’t leave the dock. The same goes for Viking River Cruises, which either canceled trips or adjusted routes to avoid running dry. Ships transporting goods are also affected. 
Heat makes roads go bust
Sizzling temperatures can damage streets and cause pavement to buckle – a phenomenon called “blow-up” that happens when pavement expands in the heat. Concrete roads are especially at risk because they are less flexible compared to tarmac roads, says Jürgen Berlitz, of the German automotive club ADAC. Most affected are spots on Germany’s old Autobahn streets that have needed fixing before. 
Slowing down on the Autobahn
To reduce the risk of blow-ups on German roads, authorities have imposed stricter speed limits and sent inspectors to areas believed to be prone to cracking. German Transportation Minister Alexander Dobrindt promised to fix spots right away. The southern state of Baden-Württemberg, among others, introduced a speed limit of 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph) on 13 stretches of different motorways. 
Same procedure as every year?
German railway operator Deutsche Bahn has been battling with its air conditioning units for years. In a sweltering heat – when you need A/C the most – the system often shuts down. On what was Germany’s hottest day ever recorded, several cooling systems failed. Passengers were asked to switch trains to avoid the disaster of 2010, when multiple students collapsed. 
Too hot to study
Focusing on math is hard when it’s too hot in the classroom. If thermometers show a temperature above 27 degrees Celsius (80F), German school principals can call it a day and allow students to go home. Some schools might opt to shorten periods instead. Either way, students in or above grade 11 usually don’t get a break as they are deemed able to deal with higher temperatures. 
School’s out – and we’re stuck in a traffic jam
As a lot of German states are in sync when it comes to school summer holidays, and because many parents are eager to leave on the first weekend once school lets out, traffic jams are inevitable. The same thing happens with returning vacationers on the last weekend before school kicks in again. “Whenever it’s possible, start your vacation on a weekday,” automotive club ADAC suggests. 
Heated anger kills pool fun
About 60 people got into a fight on the premises of a swimming pool in Berlin this month. What reportedly started as an argument between two youngsters turned into a full-blown brawl. When police forces arrived at Berlin’s Columbiabad, the attackers had already dispersed among the 6,000 visitors to the pool, which was then shut down. 
