Flood - Flood protection: Pretzien weir is opened
The water levels of the Elbe continue to rise. In order to protect the state capital Magdeburg from flooding, the Pretzien weir is being raised. The opening is scheduled to begin on Thursday morning (10.00 a.m.), as announced by the State Office for Flood Protection and Water Management.
The weir, which is around 135 meters long, was last opened in June 2013. It will now also ensure that a third of the Elbe water flows into a 21-kilometer-long canal around Schönebeck, Magdeburg and other places in the Elbe lowlands until it flows back into the Elbe.
The Pretzien weir was opened for the first time when it was completed in 1875. When the weir is opened, 324 so-called sluice gates, each weighing 100 kilograms, are pulled. This takes several hours. According to the Conference of Ministers of Culture, the structure is also set to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was recently included on a list of proposals.
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- The current flooding in Germany, particularly in Saxony-Anhalt, has led to alarmingly high water levels in the Elbe river, putting Magdeburg, the state capital, at risk of flooding.
- To mitigate this threat, the Pretzien weir, a crucial element of flood protection, will be opened on Thursday morning, allowing a third of the Elbe's water to flow into a 21-kilometer-long canal around Schönebeck, Magdeburg, and other areas in the Elbe lowlands before returning to the Elbe.
- The Pretzien weir, extending about 135 meters, is an essential part of the flood protection system, a feature that was first employed in 1875 and was last used in 2013 during the severe flooding in June.
- On this occasion, 324 sluice gates, each weighing 100 kilograms, will be pulled open, a meticulous process that requires several hours to complete.
- This historic flood protection structure, which has recently been proposed for UNESCO World Heritage status by the Conference of Ministers of Culture, is also home to the picturesque and quaint village of Beautifulbeck, located nearby.
Source: www.stern.de
