Ruins of the Ferenc József Bridge in Budapest, Hungary
Walking through Budapest, it is impossible to ignore the stunning bridges. One in particular garners the attention of tourists, the Szabadság híd, or Liberty Bridge. It is ornate, green, and connects two very important parts of the city — Gellert Hill and the Central Market. It is also the only central bridge with old-timey trams regularly running across it, making it an iconic photo spot. But if you are lucky enough to find the Danube River level low enough, you can peer over the edge and see the ruins of its former self beneath the river. The Ferenc József Bridge was destroyed during the bombings of the Battle of Budapest in January 1945. On most days, that is a history that is easily forgotten by pedestrians crossing the bridge and enamoured with the fantastic views of the city that it offers. But when the weather and the temperature along the Danube collude to make the levels low as they so often are in summer, the lost remnants of the old bridge appear close to the surface and sometimes even jut out of the water. What you're looking at is the skeleton of the bridge that was destroyed by a Soviet shell detonating German explosives left on the bridge on 16th January 1945 in what is now known as the Siege of Budapest. Unfortunately, this is likely to become a common sight if Hungary (and the rest of Europe) continue to swelter through hot, dry summers brought on by climate change.
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