Flooding In Prague - Alternative View

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Flooding In Prague - Alternative View
Flooding In Prague - Alternative View

Video: Flooding In Prague - Alternative View

Video: Flooding In Prague - Alternative View
Video: Flooding in Prague/Наводнение в Праге 2024, March
Anonim

The Vltava is a river with character. Encased in granite in Prague, she seems peaceful, lazy and calm. But when it overflows with water, it fully justifies its name - "wild water" (this is how the word "Vltava" is translated).

The earliest recorded flood occurred in 932, when the Rokytka River, which flows into the Vltava in Prague, overflowed its banks and flooded the area. The great flood of 1118 is mentioned in the Chronicle of Cosmas. The river then rose above the wooden bridge and covered many villages, houses and churches. The flood of 1342 washed away the Juditin Bridge, the first stone bridge in Prague. And during the flood of 1432, the Old Town Square was under water.

The most powerful flood was the flood of 1784, when broken rafts and ice clogged the arches of the Charles Bridge, the water washed out and damaged its 5 pylons, and one part of the pylon fell into the water along with the military guards.

It was followed by three more devastating floods in the 19th century. So, in 1845. the water in the Vltava rose by almost 7 meters. The raging water in 1872 resulted in the death of 240 people. And during the flood of 1890, Charles Bridge was seriously damaged and the Old City was flooded. The Charles Bridge also gave in. Three arches collapsed in the Vltava, and two of its pillars were seriously damaged.

But the 2002 flood is usually compared to the catastrophic flood of 1432, when unexpected heavy rains came after a drought. Then the highest rise in the water level was recorded in the Vltava. In the Church of St. George, the water rose 3 cubits (1.77 m) above the floor. She demolished five pillars of the Charles Bridge, melted down all the mills and destroyed many houses.

In the 20th century, the number of floods decreased markedly. And the people relaxed. What can not be done living in the immediate vicinity of such an insidious river as the Vltava.

WATER SPEED

Promotional video:

It all started in South Bohemia because of the rains that rained for many days.

As a result, the water level in shallow rivers has increased. The first to flood the ancient city of Cesky Krumlov. The water in it rose by 2 meters and simply washed out the first floors of medieval buildings. Overcrowded rivers carried their waters to the Vltava, which overflowed its banks in just a day. It was calculated that 4.98 billion m3 of water got into the Vltava basin, which is 475 million m3 more than usual.

Before Prague, the river passes several dams, but since the water level increased very quickly, the Prague authorities decided to open the dams in order to minimize damage.

However, a huge mass of water, which broke through the barriers, poured onto the left bank of the river, into the center of the city, gulfing most of it. She rose to the level of the second floor, flooded the subway and stopped at the Wallenstein Palace.

The barriers on the right bank of the Vltava survived and prevented the flooding of the priceless Old Town. The unique Old Town Square was especially saved, around which a special fence was built.

THIRD LEVEL OF ACTIVITY

The flood estimate changed with the increase of it. At first, they counted for 50 years, 100 years … And finally they discovered that this is the largest flood in the last 500 years.

The third level of flood activity was declared - a state of emergency. An organized evacuation began (a total of 50 thousand people were evacuated in Prague). The Prague bridges and part of the metro were closed, as the water got there.

The flood peaked on 14 August. At 12 o'clock the flood exceeded the level of a century-old water - 3700 m3 / sec. The water arrived at a speed of 5160 m3 per second. Several more metro stations and 6 more Prague bridges, as well as the Florenc station, were closed.

There were tanks on the bank, which were supposed to hold back river ships and motor ships, their mad water strove to carry them out of the river into the city …

ANIMALS Pity

During that terrible flood, the Prague Zoo, which is perhaps the largest in Europe, suffered greatly. The water washed away the lower part of it and killed many animals.

A lot of water went from the Czech Republic to Europe … The water shaft came out to the Elbe and rushed to Dresden, where the city was flooded. The museums were preparing for the evacuation of collections from the basements and first floors, dragging everything to the upper floors. The Elbe rose to the maximum by 10-11 meters. The center of Zwinger, where the famous Dresden Gallery is located, as well as the Opera building, stood in the water.

The flooding spread downstream, at Magdeburg protective dams broke and flooded meadows and fields.

The wave also went down the Danube, flooding the embankments of the cities of Linz, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bratislava. The flood reached Hungary along the Tisza, destroying dams. Water flooded villages in Romania and Bulgaria.

COUNTED - WEARED

Material damage from the floods in August 2002 amounted to EUR 3 billion or CZK 73 billion. The disaster affected 3,200,000 residents of the Czech Republic. 19 people died. Over 400 houses collapsed or needed to be demolished. In the Prague metro, 21 stations were flooded, 27 stations were closed for several months (including some for a year and a half).

Individual buildings have been restored for almost 10 years. Just in time for the new flood that struck in May 2013 …

It was strong and terrible, but not as destructive as in 2002. And thank you in that heaven.