MORAVIAN GEOGRAPHICAL REPORTS - Institute of Geonics ...

Vol. 18, 4/2010 MoraVian geographical reports
Fig. 11: An old picture depicting the situation in Karlovy Vary/Carlsbad during the catastrophic flood
of 24 th November 1890. The inundation of this spa town located in a valley was caused by the Teplá/Tepl River,
a right tributary of the Ohře/Eger R., overflowing its banks (Collection of M. Deutsch)
Fig. 12: The water level at the culmination during the flood in Carlsbad in November 1890 is recorded by the
restored flood mark at the entrance to the hotel Elefant, which is located on the left bank of the Teplá/Tepl R. (Photo
J. Daňhelka)
4. Lessons learnt
Both mentioned floods caused not only catastrophic
damage, but also taught many lessons and resulted in
the adoption of several measures.
In Bohemia, a decree was issued already
on 25 th January 1891 by Emperor-Royal governor
count Thun-Hohenstein instituting a flood warning
system on Bohemian rivers, including a requirement to
transmit warnings to neighboring Germany (Dresden).
In 1892, the following year, the Technical Office of the
Agricultural Council for the Kingdom of Bohemia in
Prague issued detailed German-Czech instructions
that established a forecasting service for water stages
on the Labe/Elbe R. and on other rivers in Bohemia.
Pursuant to these instructions, forecasts and warnings
were to be sent to Germany as well as to other places
on the Labe/Elbe R. (Dresden and Torgau). The two
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