Floodplain

The floodplain, only Au ( s) called, is shaped by the changing high and low water valley along a stream or river. Floodplains are shorelines of streams or rivers, whose terrain and communities are characterized by alternating between low and high water levels. They are available as part of the river landscape in constant exchange with the river itself and its catchment area.

Floodplains are constantly creating new habitats for pioneers among the plants and animals. The moving water provides the flooded soil itself in the growing season with sufficient oxygen. The surface structures and habitat conditions are determined primarily from the river. By switching from flooding and drying up floodplains are very dynamic habitats with different site conditions that are mosaic with each other toothed. Floodplain ecosystems are home to a wide variety of plants and animals in a confined space.

Many flood plains of the northern hemisphere are products of the Holocene and were dissected by the melt water of the last glacial periods ( the current ice age ) from the lower terrace. One finds in the floodplain fluvial sediments, such as sands and gravels, but mainly Auenlehme that led to the formation of typical alluvial soils such as Vega or Tschernitza.

The room has been changed over the centuries and adapted to the human experience. The floodplain is now an extremely important and varied unused space for people and their activities. Therefore, the frequency of the old town by word ending in -au explained. The floodplain is considered good settlement area, as it is flat and thus particularly well suited for the exploration and development. After the clearing of the floodplain forest the floodplain were usually only used as pasture, since the soil for agricultural use was too moist.

The identification and designation of flood areas in a flood plain is the technical acquisition of the operations of natural and human- agent interaction between water drainage and flood discharge and is used for flood protection. The technical flood protection with dikes, particularly in densely populated areas has led to the beginning of the industrial age to a steady displacement of traditional flood areas in the floodplain. With an increase of flood peaks also increase the risk of flooding of the existing protection systems increases in the original floodplain areas with its settlement areas.

Due to the recent past flooding events on the Rhine, Oder, Danube and Elbe was clearly visible that the flood plain is part of the water and is a natural retention area. Since then, a wider public is aware, if possible not further narrow floodplains in settlement areas of the floodplain.

In Switzerland, the federal government has provided 1992 riparian areas under special protection ( Regulation on the protection of riparian areas of national importance. October 28, 1992 ).

Gallery various degrees of Alluvial

Floodplain in Duisburg- Walsum / Dinslaken

Partially flooded floodplain in Duisburg- Walsum / Dinslaken

Spring floods in the National Park Donau-Auen

Rhine Park in Rastatt - Plittersdorf, behind the flood dam the village Plittersdorf

Rhine Park in Rastatt - Plittersdorf

Rhine Park in Rastatt - Plittersdorf

Renatured Indeaue between Eschweiler and Weisweiler

Montanes floodplain at the Engstlige

Montanes floodplain at the Engstlige

Floodplain landscape in the national park Lower Oder Valley

Flood in the Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve

Cattle in the sandy Berkelaue

Floodplains of the Okavango