The carcass of a baby dolphin lay on the sand bank left exposed by the receding waters in an Amazon lake that has been drying up in the worst drought on record. Researchers recovered the dead animal on Wednesday and measured water temperatures that have been rising as the lake's level drops.

The current drought is concerning because it comes relatively early in the Amazon's dry season.

Brazil is enduring its worst drought since nationwide measurements began over seven decades ago, with 59% of the country under stress — an area roughly half the size of the U.S.

The drought's impact extends beyond wildlife. Riverine communities across the Amazon are facing unprecedented challenges.