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RIVERS - Coggle Diagram
RIVERS
Disadvantages
River Elbe
Effects
Property Damage Over 40,000 homes were flooded, with many suffering severe damage, particularly in the German states of Saxony, Bavaria, and Saxony-Anhalt.Total Economic Damage: The total financial damage from the flood was estimated to be around €12 billion (about $16 billion USD) across all affected countries. 
Agricultural Damage Crops Destroyed: The floodwaters destroyed thousands of hectares of farmland. In Germany alone, over 40,000 hectares of crops were damaged or destroyed, including wheat, barley, and maize.Livestock Losses: While specific figures on livestock losses vary, it was reported that hundreds of livestock were lost in the floodwaters, further impacting the agricultural sector.
infrastructure DamageDamage to Roads and Railways: More than 1,000 km of roads and 500 km of railways were damaged, which caused massive transportation disruptions.Bridges: Several bridges were either damaged or destroyed, leading to long-term road closures. In Germany alone, dozens of bridges were affected.
Environmental Damage
Pollution and Water Contamination: The flood caused significant water contamination. In some areas, floodwaters carried hazardous chemicals and raw sewage, risking contamination of drinking water supplies.
Soil Erosion: Widespread soil erosion occurred in many of the flood-affected areas, leading to the long-term degradation of agricultural land.
Causes
Heavy rainfall The primary trigger for the 2013 Elbe flood was a period of extremely heavy rainfall that occurred in the weeks. In some areas, more than 200 mm of rain fell in just a few days, which was more than the average for the entire month of June.Rainfall Distribution: The rainfall was concentrated in the upper areas of the Elbe River, particularly in the Czech Republic and parts of Germany, leading to rapid runoff into the river system.
Saturated SoilAlready Wet Conditions: Prior to the 2013 flood, the region had experienced unusually wet conditions during the spring, which caused the soil to become highly saturated. This left little room for additional rainfall to be absorbed, resulting in much of the water running off directly into rivers like the Elbe.Groundwater Levels: Groundwater levels were already high, meaning that even small amounts of additional rainfall could lead to significant runoff, worsening the flooding.
Snow melt
Delayed Snowmelt: The 2013 flood occurred during a time when the melting of snow in the mountains (particularly in the Czech Republic and Austria) added to the water volume flowing into the Elbe River. The combination of rain and melting snow led to an accelerated rise in water levels.Spring Snowmelt: A large amount of snow accumulated during the cold winter months, and when warmer temperatures arrived in late spring and early summer, the snow rapidly melted, contributing to the floodwaters.
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