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In pictures: Dramatically low water levels reveal hidden landscape at Yorkshire reservoir

Striking pictures show the dramatically low water level at Baitings Reservoir in West Yorkshire, exposing large areas normally hidden beneath the water.

Striking photographs have revealed the extent of the low water level at Baitings Reservoir in West Yorkshire.

The images show large expanses of the reservoir bed exposed, with the water retreating significantly from its usual shoreline.

Among the features revealed is an old stone bridge, while photographs taken from above show the remaining water winding through the otherwise exposed landscape.

People can also be seen walking across areas which would ordinarily be submerged, while discarded debris has become visible as the water has receded.

The scenes provide a stark contrast with a photograph of Baitings Reservoir at a much higher level, when water covers much of the landscape currently exposed.

Here are some of the striking pictures showing Baitings Reservoir at its current low level.

People walk over a bridge that is normally submerged by Baitings Reservoir in Ripponden, West Yorkshire. Households in Yorkshire have become the first to be hit with a hosepipe ban by Yorkshire Water, after months of extremely hot and dry weather across England

1. Baitings Reservoir

People walk over a bridge that is normally submerged by Baitings Reservoir in Ripponden, West Yorkshire. Households in Yorkshire have become the first to be hit with a hosepipe ban by Yorkshire Water, after months of extremely hot and dry weather across England Photo: Danny Lawson

Dry cracked earth at Baitings Reservoir in Ripponden, West Yorkshire. Households in Yorkshire have become the first to be hit with a hosepipe ban by Yorkshire Water, after months of extremely hot and dry weather across England.

2. Baitings Reservoir

Dry cracked earth at Baitings Reservoir in Ripponden, West Yorkshire. Households in Yorkshire have become the first to be hit with a hosepipe ban by Yorkshire Water, after months of extremely hot and dry weather across England. Photo: Danny Lawson

People walk their dog on banks of Baitings Reservoir, which have been partially revealed by a falling water level, near Ripponden.

In this aerial view low water levels at Baitings Reservoir reveal the top of an ancient pack horse bridge after the driest spring in 132 years on June 16, 2025 in Ripponden, England. Yorkshire has become the second region to declare drought status by the Environment Agency (EA) after low rainfall this year and reservoirs at 64.6% capacity, below the expected 80-85% at this time of year.

4. RIPPONDEN, ENGLAND - JUNE 16: In this aerial view low water levels at Baitings Reservoir reveal the top of an ancient pack horse bridge after the driest spring in 132 years on June 16, 2025 in Ripponden, England. Yorkshire has become the second region to declare drought status by the Environment Agency (EA) after low rainfall this year and reservoirs at 64.6% capacity, below the expected 80-85% at this time of year. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

In this aerial view low water levels at Baitings Reservoir reveal the top of an ancient pack horse bridge after the driest spring in 132 years on June 16, 2025 in Ripponden, England. Yorkshire has become the second region to declare drought status by the Environment Agency (EA) after low rainfall this year and reservoirs at 64.6% capacity, below the expected 80-85% at this time of year. Photo: Christopher Furlong

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