photo by John Thurm (Flickr CC)

Water shortages from increasingly drier and hotter weather have resulted in desperate conditions on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

Cyprus is the first EU nation to face ‘peak water’ – the situation in which demand is higher than supply. Aquifers have dried up and filled with seawater, making natural water resources undrinkable. Forests are dying, leading to desertification.

The Cyprus Institute forecasts that by 2050 the temperature for more than four months of the year will be above 35° Celsius (95° Fahrenheit) — that’s 50 percent more hot days per year.

–CNN

In the Greek part of Cyprus, desalinization plants offer one solution. The Turkish part of the island is planning a pipeline to import water from Turkey. But what happens when Turkey’s water resources become stretched?

For more on the story see the following report from CNN Earth’s Frontiers:

Cyprus facing up to life after ‘peak water’

Also check out the following opinion piece by Cyprus’ Environment Commissioner, Charalampos Theopemptou:

Prepare for a hotter, drier Mediterranean