The city of Cologne in Germany has installed mist sprayers in public areas to help residents cool off after the Meteorological Department issued a heatwave warning, with temperatures expected to soar to 35 degrees Celsius in many regions.
Images from Rudolphplatz square show numerous people standing under the sprinkler mist to cool down amid the sweltering heat, while tourists near Cologne Cathedral shield themselves with umbrellas, wear hats, and seek ways to protect against the sun.
The project is a collaboration between Cologne city municipality and RheinEnergie, an energy and water service provider, under the "Cooling Cologne" initiative. It aims to mitigate heatwave impacts by installing sprinklers in areas particularly affected by heat, operating only on days when the German Meteorological Department officially issues heat warnings.
Cooling Cologne was launched in June 2025 as part of climate change adaptation efforts, aiming to create public spaces that reduce heat, alleviate stress from high temperatures, and lower health risks for residents during summer.
In addition to soaring temperatures, images along the Rhine River reveal clearly reduced water levels due to drought, forcing many boats to navigate shallower channels. This highlights the effects of hot, dry weather and low rainfall across many parts of Germany this summer.
Source:The Canadian Press
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