MORAVIAN GEOGRAPHICAL REPORTS - Institute of Geonics ...

Vol. 18, 4/2010 MoraVian geographical reports
eXaMples oF great cross-BorDer FlooDs
in central eUrope anD lessons learnt
(case stUDies oF FlooDs FroM septeMBer
Abstract
anD noVeMBer 1890 on the occasion
oF their 120 th anniVersarY)
Jan MUNZAR, Mathias DEUTSCH, Stanislav ONDRÁČEK, Eva KALLABOVÁ
Seeing that extreme historical floods usually affected territories of multiple countries, their research and
comparison are possible only on the basis of long-term international cooperation. Only the knowledge
from more affected countries can generate a complex image of their significance and impacts. This
applies also to two disastrous floods, which occurred in Central Europe in September and then again in
November 1890. The two floods affected a number of Central European countries at the same time and
their extent reached beyond their borders. Whereas the flood events of September 1890 were documented
in details already in the past, the catastrophic flood of November 1890 is today in the Czech Republic
practically without the attention of experts and this is why it is in the focus of our brief reminder.
Shrnutí
Příklady velkých přeshraničních povodní ve střední Evropě ze září a listopadu 1890 a poučení z nich
(v souvislosti s jejich 120. výročím)
Velké historické povodně často zasáhly více sousedních zemí současně. Jejich výzkum a srovnání je proto
nutné provádět na základě systematické mezinárodní spolupráce. Teprve jejich komplexní přeshraniční
dokumentace pak vytváří ucelenou představu o významu dané historické události. Týká se to i dvou
katastrofálních povodní, ke kterým došlo ve střední Evropě v roce 1890 jen necelé tři měsíce po sobě,
v září a poté v listopadu. Obě katastrofy zasáhly více středoevropských zemí současně a jednalo se tedy
o přeshraniční povodně. Zatímco události v září 1890 byly v minulosti již poměrně podrobně dokumentovány,
katastrofální povodeň v listopadu 1890 je dnes v České republice odbornou veřejností téměř zapomenutá
a proto ji k jejímu výročí v tomto článku stručně připomínáme.
Keywords: cross-border floods, Central Europe, September 1890, November 1890, lessons learnt
1. Introduction
The end of the 19 th century in Central Europe was
a period of the increased incidence of large floods.
In 1890 even two catastrophic floods occurred there
less than three months apart in September and
then again in November. The two floods affected
a number of Central European countries at the same
time and their extent reached beyond their borders.
Whereas in September 1890 mainly the Elbe R. and
the Danube R. basins were affected, in November an
extensive area in Germany between the Elbe R. and
the Rhine R. was affected in particular. It is a little
known fact that the floods in November 1890 affected
a part of western Bohemia too (mainly the Ohře/
Eger R. basin). This November case was certainly
overshadowed by tragic events at the beginning of
September that affected all of Bohemia.
On 24 th November 1890, the world-famous spa of
Karlovy Vary/Carlsbad was destroyed by flooding on
the Teplá/Tepl R., a right tributary of the German-
Czech cross border Ohře/Eger R. Both mentioned floods
caused not only catastrophic damage, but also taught
many lessons and resulted in the adoption of several
measures. Regarding this year’s 120 th anniversary of
the both flood disasters, we attempt in our paper at
their brief commemoration.
21