The document summarizes the causes and consequences of a destructive drought that occurred in the Rhone-Alpes region of France. It notes that drought is often due to very high temperatures which occur by chance and can reduce corn production, cause cattle to die of hunger, increase forest fires as trees dry out, and damage earth that cracks from loss of water and heat. The year 2003 was particularly bad, causing some trees to lose leaves and others to burn in forest fires.