New Danube

The New Danube is an eastern tributary of the Danube in Vienna. It is designed as part of the Vienna Danube regulation, as the discharge waters for flood protection. Between New Danube and main power is the Danube Island.

History of Architecture and function in flood protection

The New Danube runs for a distance of some 21 km parallel to the flow through the city of Vienna: from the turnoff from the main stream in the municipality of Langenzersdorf in Lower Austria ( in the northwest) and then by the 21th district to the confluence with the main stream of the Danube National Park floodplains in the 22nd district ( in the southeast ). Where today extend the New Danube and Danube Island, was previously the created in the first Vienna Danube regulation 1868-1875 floodplain, vast pastures, which was flooded at high tide. The left, north bank of the New Danube secures the built until 1875 Hubertusdamm ( March Field levee ).

From June 8 to July 28, 1954 Vienna was hit by a devastating flood, which flooded the city -side banks in several places and by leachate days Floridsdorfer parts of the district Jedlesee and Schwarzlackenau threatened. The March Field levee had to be increased with sandbags to withstand the flood waters, and the fire department had to rescue 186 people from danger. Only the the improving weather it was thanks to them that no flooding disaster occurred. The event resulted in the inadequacy of flood protection in the Vienna area in front of the eyes, it could only withstand a flow rate of approximately 10,000 m³ / s.

1957 started planning for an improved flood protection. It was created after years of discussion, a new Danube regulation plan, which provided for the creation of a Entlastungsgerinnes and the heaping up of an elongated island in the Danube. Construction was the 29th May 1972, and until October 13, 1987 all work had been completed. The official name Neue Donau was decided by the competent Municipal Committee, 1984; in the public relations work of the Town Hall, the name was first used in 1969, as the term Entlastungsgerinne not one of them was suitable to make the building project popular.

With the new structure, it is possible a high amount of water of up to 14,000 m³ / s risk - the water level would then one meter below the dam crowns are - dissipate, which corresponds to the floods of 1501, the largest so far recorded in Vienna water level. The amount of water would divide it s to 5,200 m³ / s on the New Danube and 8,800 m³ / on the main stream. The total cost for the construction amounted to 4.5 billion shillings, together with the simultaneously built right Danube dam 7 billion shillings. During the construction of around 30 million cubic meters of earth were moved.

At the beginning of the New Danube is an intake structure called weir which is closed normally, making the New Danube to standing water. At high tide it is opened to clear the Danube relieved and floods can be avoided. This usually has an up to several weeks permanent bathing prohibition for the New Danube result, until the water has again bathing water quality. More weirs are located just upstream of the bridge Prater ( weir 1) and at the height of the oil terminal Lobau ( weir 2) about 1.5 km upstream of the mouth of the New Danube into the main stream.

In addition to use for recreation and tourism

The New Danube is with the U -Bahn U6 ( New Danube ), U1 ( Danube Island ) and U2 ( station Donaustadtbrücke ), with the S-Bahn ( stations Handelskai and Lobau ), with over Floridsdorfer bridge trains running tram 31 and accessible by various urban bus routes. It has boat races - the World Rowing Masters were in September 2009 hosted there - and a water ski lift. The best-known section of the shore is located in the Reichsbrücke Copa Cagrana. Private motor boats are not allowed on the New Danube.