1934 flood in Poland
Encyclopedia
1934 flood in Poland was the biggest flood
in the Second Polish Republic
. It began with heavy rains in the Dunajec river basin, which took place between 13 and 17 July 1934. In the following days, the flood spread to the basins of the Raba, Wisłoka, and Skawa
, all of which are tributaries to the Vistula
. The disaster took the lives of 55 people and caused damages estimated at 60 million interbellum Polish zlotys.
, and in Kuźnice—199 mm (7.8 in). On the same day, Polish record of rainfall was broken in Tatra
s valley of Hala Gasienicowa, where 255 mm (10 in) were recorded. Even though the Dunajec basin was the most affected, heavy rain was also recorded in the basins of the Skawa
, and the Wisłoka. Combined rain of two days (16 and 17 July) amounted in some locations to more than 300 mm (11.8 in). According co contemporary sources, some areas looked like giant seas, with chimneys of houses peaking over the water.
Levels of the rivers which have their sources in the Tatras and the Gorce
rose immediately, and on 19 July the flood wave, swollen by excessive waters of the tributaries, appeared on the Vistula near Sandomierz
. Due to pressure of the water, levees were broken, and thousands of acres of fields were covered in water. At the same time, this caused the flood wave to decrease, and by the time it reached Warsaw
(22 July), it was much smaller than expected, and did not inflict much damage in Poland’s capital.
dam was finished in 1936, but the engineers didn't achieve to finish Rożnów
dam before the outbreak of World War II, which was finished by Germans in 1941.
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
in the Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
. It began with heavy rains in the Dunajec river basin, which took place between 13 and 17 July 1934. In the following days, the flood spread to the basins of the Raba, Wisłoka, and Skawa
Skawa
Skawa is a river in southern Poland, a right tributary of the Vistula. It originates in the Western Carpathians , is 96 km long and drains 1,160 km². It passes several towns: Jordanów, Maków Podhalański, Sucha Beskidzka, Wadowice and Zator....
, all of which are tributaries to the Vistula
Vistula
The Vistula is the longest and the most important river in Poland, at 1,047 km in length. The watershed area of the Vistula is , of which lies within Poland ....
. The disaster took the lives of 55 people and caused damages estimated at 60 million interbellum Polish zlotys.
The flood
First heavy rains took place on 13 July 1934, and it continued during the coming days, with more than 50 mm of rain noted on 14 and 15 July. Peak of the rainfall was marked on 16 July, with heaviest rains ever recorded in the Dunajec basin. On that day, 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain fell in the village of WitówWitów
Witów may refer to the following places in Poland:*Witów, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Witów, Kutno County in Łódź Voivodeship *Witów, Łęczyca County in Łódź Voivodeship...
, and in Kuźnice—199 mm (7.8 in). On the same day, Polish record of rainfall was broken in Tatra
Tatra Mountains
The Tatra Mountains, Tatras or Tatra , are a mountain range which forms a natural border between Slovakia and Poland, and are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains...
s valley of Hala Gasienicowa, where 255 mm (10 in) were recorded. Even though the Dunajec basin was the most affected, heavy rain was also recorded in the basins of the Skawa
Skawa
Skawa is a river in southern Poland, a right tributary of the Vistula. It originates in the Western Carpathians , is 96 km long and drains 1,160 km². It passes several towns: Jordanów, Maków Podhalański, Sucha Beskidzka, Wadowice and Zator....
, and the Wisłoka. Combined rain of two days (16 and 17 July) amounted in some locations to more than 300 mm (11.8 in). According co contemporary sources, some areas looked like giant seas, with chimneys of houses peaking over the water.
Levels of the rivers which have their sources in the Tatras and the Gorce
Gorce
Gorce may refer to:*Gorce, a former town in south-western Poland, now part of Boguszów-Gorce*Gorce, a mountain range in southern Poland: see Gorce National Park...
rose immediately, and on 19 July the flood wave, swollen by excessive waters of the tributaries, appeared on the Vistula near Sandomierz
Sandomierz
Sandomierz is a city in south-eastern Poland with 25,714 inhabitants . Situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship , previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship . It is the capital of Sandomierz County . Sandomierz is known for its Old Town, a major tourist attraction...
. Due to pressure of the water, levees were broken, and thousands of acres of fields were covered in water. At the same time, this caused the flood wave to decrease, and by the time it reached Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
(22 July), it was much smaller than expected, and did not inflict much damage in Poland’s capital.
Effects
Altogether, the water flooded 1260 square kilometers, killing 55 people. Damaged or destroyed were 22,059 buildings, 167 kilometres (103.8 mi) of roads, and 78 bridges. The damages were estimated at 12 million U.S. dollars, or more than 60 million interbellum Polish zlotys. As a result of the catastrophic flood, two reservoirs were constructed on the Sola, and the Dunajec. The PorąbkaPorabka
Porąbka may refer to the following places:*Porąbka, Limanowa County in Lesser Poland Voivodeship *Porąbka, Olkusz County in Lesser Poland Voivodeship *Porąbka, Silesian Voivodeship...
dam was finished in 1936, but the engineers didn't achieve to finish Rożnów
Roznów, Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Rożnów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Gródek nad Dunajcem, within Nowy Sącz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately north of Nowy Sącz and south-east of the regional capital Kraków....
dam before the outbreak of World War II, which was finished by Germans in 1941.