Belgium’s Fog of Death

Belgium’s Meuse River valley has long been an inviting tourist destination. The Meuse River meanders through northern France before taking an L-shaped path through Belgium, where it leisurely passes historic towns, striking abbeys and châteaux nestled among its extremely impressive scenery. From Belgium it then crosses into Holland, where its name changes to the Maas River.

But for almost five days starting December 1, 1930, this scenic valley was occupied by a creeping horror — a wet, impenetrable and extremely toxic fog, centered at the town of Engis. Before it lifted completely on…