13 Flood Marks in Poland and Their Significance in Water …
261
Fig. 13.8 Flood marks based on old photography (Vistula River in Ciechocinek on the left side)
and parish chronicle (Vistula River in the Wielkie Walichnowy one the right side) (M. Gor˛ aczko)
is why even having the precise geographical coordinates of their location does not
mean they can be easily found in the terrain.
The first and only chronological tally of the high watermarks in Poland was
conducted by Bo˙ zek [25]. Decisively the most numerous marks (59 objects) were
erected in the aftermath of the ‘flood of the millennium’ in July 1997, caused by
the long-lasting downpour in the upper and middle part of the Vistula’s basin. The
second most documented (with high water marks) flood (19 objects) was the one that
occurred in the period of March–April of 1888. It was a snow-melt flood which in
many locations of the country’s lowlands (i.e. on Vistula, Note´ c, Warta, and Słupia)
resulted in ice jams. In 1903 13 high water marks were erected (mainly in Wroclaw
and Krakow) to document the flood caused by the rainfalls in July of that year in the
upper parts of the Vistula’s and the Odra’s basin. Similar in number are the marks
from 1829 (related mainly to the snow-melt flood on ˙
Zuławy Wi´ slane), 2010 (the
largest so far flood in twenty-first century Poland), 1813 and 1934 (floods caused by
rainfall in the upper and middle part of the Vistula’s basin). In most cases, however,
Bo˙ zek’s research (2017) has revealed until now that the majority of floods have been
documented by one or two high watermarks.
13.4 Hydrological, Historical and Educational Significance
of Flood Marks
The use of high watermarks on the terrains that constitute modern Poland developed
much earlier than the periodic (and later constant) water measurements conducted
through stream gauges [27]. The beginning of measuring using stream gauges,
according to the existing records, dates back to 1760 – when they were used to
measure the levels of Vistula River in Toru´ n [22, 28]. In 1799 measuring also begun
for the levels of Vistula River in Warsaw. The first measurements of Vistula River in
Krakow begun in 1813. In case of the second largest river in Poland – Odra River – the
first existing measurements come from 1809 in Krosno and 1810 in Ko´ zle, Opole,
261
Fig. 13.8 Flood marks based on old photography (Vistula River in Ciechocinek on the left side)
and parish chronicle (Vistula River in the Wielkie Walichnowy one the right side) (M. Gor˛ aczko)
is why even having the precise geographical coordinates of their location does not
mean they can be easily found in the terrain.
The first and only chronological tally of the high watermarks in Poland was
conducted by Bo˙ zek [25]. Decisively the most numerous marks (59 objects) were
erected in the aftermath of the ‘flood of the millennium’ in July 1997, caused by
the long-lasting downpour in the upper and middle part of the Vistula’s basin. The
second most documented (with high water marks) flood (19 objects) was the one that
occurred in the period of March–April of 1888. It was a snow-melt flood which in
many locations of the country’s lowlands (i.e. on Vistula, Note´ c, Warta, and Słupia)
resulted in ice jams. In 1903 13 high water marks were erected (mainly in Wroclaw
and Krakow) to document the flood caused by the rainfalls in July of that year in the
upper parts of the Vistula’s and the Odra’s basin. Similar in number are the marks
from 1829 (related mainly to the snow-melt flood on ˙
Zuławy Wi´ slane), 2010 (the
largest so far flood in twenty-first century Poland), 1813 and 1934 (floods caused by
rainfall in the upper and middle part of the Vistula’s basin). In most cases, however,
Bo˙ zek’s research (2017) has revealed until now that the majority of floods have been
documented by one or two high watermarks.
13.4 Hydrological, Historical and Educational Significance
of Flood Marks
The use of high watermarks on the terrains that constitute modern Poland developed
much earlier than the periodic (and later constant) water measurements conducted
through stream gauges [27]. The beginning of measuring using stream gauges,
according to the existing records, dates back to 1760 – when they were used to
measure the levels of Vistula River in Toru´ n [22, 28]. In 1799 measuring also begun
for the levels of Vistula River in Warsaw. The first measurements of Vistula River in
Krakow begun in 1813. In case of the second largest river in Poland – Odra River – the
first existing measurements come from 1809 in Krosno and 1810 in Ko´ zle, Opole,