River Elbe Case Study

Question 1

What is river Elbe

Answer 1

Major river of Central Europe
4th largest in Europe

24 million people live in drainage basin

Question 2

Where is river

Answer 2

Flows through Czech Republic and Germany

Flows into North Sea, north Hamburg

Question 3

How long is river

Answer 3

680 miles

Question 4

Opportunities given by river

Answer 4

Transport
Water supply
Hydro electric power
Fertile soils
Tourism and cruises

Question 5

When was flooded

Answer 5

2013

Question 6

Physical causes of flooding

Answer 6

Spring weather beforehand was wet
May 2013 one of three wettest in last 156 years - twice as much rain

Wide spread precipitation over most drainage basin

Heavy rain occurred early summer when snow was still melting

Question 7

Human causes of flooding

Answer 7

Urbanisation
Deforestation
Agricultural practices

Question 8

Impacts of flooding

Answer 8

Germany - 600,000 people affected

Germany - transport disturbed by flooding and landslides - damage

Prague - water levels rose above normal - stations underwater

Question 9

Management of flood

Hamburg

Answer 9

100km embankments

Sandbags and Mobil metal barriers

Question 10

Magdeburg

Management

Answer 10

Embankments raised and moved back

Question 11

Dresden

Management

Answer 11

Higher embankments
Stronger walls
Metal flood barriers
Old area sacrificed

Question 12

Prague

Management

Answer 12

Metal barriers strengthens
Mobile barriers available
Sandbags