Illustrative image (Photo: REUTERS/Bruno Kelly)

Rapidly drying tributaries to the mighty Amazon have left boats stranded, cutting off food and water supplies to remote villages, while high water temperatures are suspected of killing more than 100 endangered river dolphins.

Some areas of the Amazon have seen the least rain from July to September since 1980, according to the Brazilian government disaster alert center. Brazil's Science Ministry blames the drought on this year's onset of the El Nino climate phenomenon, which is driving extreme weather patterns globally.

In a statement earlier this month, the ministry said it expects the drought will last until at least December, when El Nino's effects are forecast to peak.