Photos: Water flow at iconic Victoria Falls hits lowest level in decades

Low-water levels are seen after a prolonged drought at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe on December 4, 2019. The worst drought in a century has slowed the iconic Victoria Falls to a trickle, fueling fears that climate change could kill the tourist attraction on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

A combination picture shows water flowing (top) and low-water levels after a prolonged drought (bottom) at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Pictures taken on January 17, 2019 and December 4, 2019.

Visitors take pictures before dry cliffs following a prolonged drought at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Picture taken December 4, 2019. For decades Victoria Falls, where southern Africa's Zambezi river cascade down 100 metres into a gash in the earth, have drawn millions of holidaymakers to Zimbabwe and Zambia for their stunning views.

Low-water levels are seen after a prolonged drought at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. While they typically slow down during the dry season, officials said this year had brought an unprecedented decline in water levels. "In previous years, when it gets dry, it's not to this extent. This (is) our first experience of seeing it like this," Dominic Nyambe, a seller of tourist handicrafts in his 30s said outside his shop in Livingstone, on the Zambian side.

Spray rises up in the distance along the parched gorge on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. Zimbabwe and Zambia have suffered power cuts as they are heavily reliant on hydropower from plants at the Kariba Dam which is on the Zambezi river upstream of the waterfalls.

Visitors walk over a bridge as dry cliffs are seen along the parched gorge on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, Zambia, following a prolonged drought. Data from the Zambezi River Authority shows water flow at its lowest since 1995, and well under the long term average.

A combination picture shows water flowing (top) and low-water levels after a prolonged drought (bottom) at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Pictures taken on January 17, 2019 and December 4, 2019.

Visitors take pictures before dry cliffs following a prolonged drought at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe,. Picture taken on December 4, 2019.

Dry cliffs are seen following a prolonged drought at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Picture taken December 4, 2019.

The Victoria Falls is seen from the air following a prolonged drought from the Zimbabwean side at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Picture taken on December 5, 2019.

Water pours over the edge of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Picture taken January 17, 2019.

Visitors walk along a walkway as spray rises up from a flowing section of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Picture taken on December 4, 2019.

A dry section of the Zambezi river is seen above the gorge on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, Zambia, following a prolonged drought. Picture taken on December 5, 2019.

Spray rises up in the distance along the parched gorge on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, Zambia Picture taken December 5, 2019.

A visitor takes pictures before flowing water at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Picture taken January 17.

Visitors walk along a walkway after a prolonged drought near Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe on December 4, 2019.

Visitors take pictures before dry cliffs following a prolonged drought at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Picture taken December 4, 2019.

Water pours over the edge of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Picture taken January 17, 2019.

A combination picture shows visitors taking pictures in front of flowing water (top) and dry cliffs following a prolonged drought (bottom) at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, taken on January 17, 2019 and December 4, 2019.