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Location

This earthcache is located on the Danube embankment - a popular place from where most of the cruise ships start their journey on the Danube. At the given location you will find a flood mark that commemorates the flood levels observed in Budapest in different years throughout the history.

^ The Vigado ter information building flooded during one of Budapest's major floods.

River Danube

The Danube is the second longest river in Europe after Volga. Known as Hister during the Roman Empire, the Danube was once a long-standing frontier of the empire, and today flows through 10 countries, more than any other river in the world. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for 2,850 km (1,770 mi), passing through or bordering Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine before draining into the Black Sea. Its drainage basin extends into nine more countries.

The Danube river basin is home to fish species such as pike, zander, huchen, Wels catfish, burbot and tench. It is also home to a large diversity of carp and sturgeon, as well as salmon and trout.  

Since ancient times, the Danube has become a traditional trade route in Europe. Today, 2,415 km (1,501 mi) of its total length are navigable. The river is also an important source of hydropower and drinking water.

The floods in Budapest

On the Pest riverbank by Vigadó Square, a small concrete building serves as the ticket-sales center for ferryboats and dinner-cruise ships plying the mighty Danube from nearby docks. On one side of this building, an intriguing monument indicates high-water points from several significant floods dating back to 1876, including a major one that struck the city just a few years ago; the marker for that relatively recent deluge almost reaches the roof. However, this memorial includes no marker for the great flood of Budapest that spanned March 13-18, 1838 – because when that deluge overwhelmed Hungary’s capital, the very highest point of this riverfront building would have been deep underwater.

Location of the flood mark ^

How do floods form?

A flood occurs when water inundates land that's normally dry, which can happen in a multitude of ways.

Excessive rain, a ruptured dam or levee, rapid melting of snow or ice, or even an unfortunately placed beaver dam can overwhelm a river, spreading over the adjacent land, called a floodplain. Coastal flooding occurs when a large storm or tsunami causes the sea to surge inland.

Most floods take hours or even days to develop, giving residents time to prepare or evacuate. Others generate quickly and with little warning. So-called flash floods can be extremely dangerous, instantly turning a babbling brook or even a dry wash into rushing rapids that sweep everything in their path downstream.

Climate change is increasing the risk of floods worldwide, particularly in coastal and low-lying areas, because of its role in extreme weather events and rising seas. The increase in temperatures that accompanies global warming can contribute to hurricanes that move more slowly and drop more rain, funneling moisture into atmospheric rivers like the ones that led to heavy rains and flooding in California in early 2019.

Meanwhile, metling glaciers and other factors are contributing to a rise in sea levels that has created long-term, chronic flooding risks for places ranging from Venice, Italy, to the Marshall Islands. More than 670 U.S. communities will face repeated flooding by the end of this century, according to a 2017 analysis; it's happening in more than 90 coastal communities already.

The impacts of major floods in Europe may increase considerably in the future, since society is becoming more vulnerable to the damage and disruption caused by floods, and because floods may become more serious and more frequent due to climatic changes.

 Earthcache

To log this EarthCache you must answer the following questions, then send me the answers. You do not have to wait for admittance, if there's something wrong I will contact you. Please answer using your own words, copy pasted answers will not be accepted. Do not attach photos with the flood mark.

1. Find the flood mark on the left side of the building. When was the most recent flood, and the oldest, what heights?

2. See attached photo. Go down the steps and observe the water level mark on the right. What level and color does the Danube have today? 

3. Budapest is split by the Danube into two sides, Buda and Pest. Which area was the most affected during floods and why?

4. Upload a photo with you and the Danube. (If you do not want to be in the photo you can use an object or the gps).

Because many people tried to cheat and add a fake log without actually visiting the site it is mandatory to add a photo, see question #4. Logs without answers will be deleted too.