The Donauinsel (Danube Island) is a long, narrow artificial island in central Vienna, Austria, lying between the Danube river and the parallel excavated channel Neue Donau ("New Danube"). The island is 21.1 km (13.1 mi) in length, but is only 70–210 m (230–689 ft) wide. It was constructed from 1972 to 1988 primarily as a measure for flood protection.[1]
Donauinsel, separating New Danube (left) from Danube (right). View from north. The UNO-City is visible to the left of the photoCopa Cagrana with lighthouse and pontoon bridge, from SE. In the background: Millennium Tower, Kahlenberg (w. antenna), Leopoldsberg (w. church) and, far out, Klosterneuburg.Part of a nudist beach
It has since become the most popular recreational area of the city.[1]
To most visitors, the island is known as a recreational area with bars, restaurants and nightclubs. It has sports opportunities from rollerblading, cycling and swimming to canoeing. There is one beach that, in its beginning, felt so exotic that it was soon nicknamed the "Copa Cagrana" as a humoristic allusion to Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana: Kagran is the part of the 22nd District of Vienna next to that beach. In the southern and northern parts of the island, there are extensive (and free) nude beaches.
The Donauinselfest is an internationally well-known annual open air festival, and Europe's biggest event of this kind, with over three million visitors. It takes place on the last full weekend of June (Friday through Sunday) – except for 2008 (September 5–7), due to Austria (and Switzerland) hosting the European Football Championship.[2]
Reliable flood protectionedit
The main purpose of the island however is to be part of Vienna's highly sophisticated flood protection system. As the river Danube crosses the city (before major extensions: passed nearby), this has been a constant concern over hundreds of years. The first notable protective measures were taken between 1870 and 1875. A central bed, 280 m, was dug out, and an inundation area of 450 m was created at the river's left bank.
In 1970, a new plan was conceived and soon executed: digging an additional channel to replace the former inundation area, and using the spoil to build up the remaining strip of land between the straightened bed from the 19th century flood defense schemes and the newly created one. The new channel is called the Neue Donau (New Danube). After the completion of the works it was envisaged that the resulting island should eventually be used for recreation. The flood control system is designed to protect from flash floods bringing river flows of up to 14,000 m3 per second. This has only happened once in Vienna's history; in 1501. The heavy 2002 flood brought flows of 10,000 m3 per second. It includes the Danube Canal's historic Nußdorf watergate, locks at either end of New Danube, a groundwater level control system integrated into the right bank flood levee (which creates appropriate conditions for the large park area Prater, once part of a wide alluvial forest zone), and the new Freudenau river plant's sluice.[3]
The works were started in March 1972 and finished in 1988. The power plant was added from 1992 to 1998.[1]
Notesedit
^ abc(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-07-29. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
^"Donauinselfest 2010 doch im Juni - oesterreich.ORF.at" [Donauinselfest 2010 will take place in June after all]. wiev1.orf.at (in Austrian German). 2009-08-28. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
donauinsel, danube, island, long, narrow, artificial, island, central, vienna, austria, lying, between, danube, river, parallel, excavated, channel, neue, donau, danube, island, length, only, wide, constructed, from, 1972, 1988, primarily, measure, flood, prot. The Donauinsel Danube Island is a long narrow artificial island in central Vienna Austria lying between the Danube river and the parallel excavated channel Neue Donau New Danube The island is 21 1 km 13 1 mi in length but is only 70 210 m 230 689 ft wide It was constructed from 1972 to 1988 primarily as a measure for flood protection 1 Donauinsel separating New Danube left from Danube right View from north The UNO City is visible to the left of the photo Copa Cagrana with lighthouse and pontoon bridge from SE In the background Millennium Tower Kahlenberg w antenna Leopoldsberg w church and far out Klosterneuburg Part of a nudist beach It has since become the most popular recreational area of the city 1 Contents 1 Recreation and festival venue 2 Reliable flood protection 3 Notes 4 References and other external links 4 1 MapsRecreation and festival venue editTo most visitors the island is known as a recreational area with bars restaurants and nightclubs It has sports opportunities from rollerblading cycling and swimming to canoeing There is one beach that in its beginning felt so exotic that it was soon nicknamed the Copa Cagrana as a humoristic allusion to Rio de Janeiro s Copacabana Kagran is the part of the 22nd District of Vienna next to that beach In the southern and northern parts of the island there are extensive and free nude beaches The Donauinselfest is an internationally well known annual open air festival and Europe s biggest event of this kind with over three million visitors It takes place on the last full weekend of June Friday through Sunday except for 2008 September 5 7 due to Austria and Switzerland hosting the European Football Championship 2 Reliable flood protection editThe main purpose of the island however is to be part of Vienna s highly sophisticated flood protection system As the river Danube crosses the city before major extensions passed nearby this has been a constant concern over hundreds of years The first notable protective measures were taken between 1870 and 1875 A central bed 280 m was dug out and an inundation area of 450 m was created at the river s left bank In 1970 a new plan was conceived and soon executed digging an additional channel to replace the former inundation area and using the spoil to build up the remaining strip of land between the straightened bed from the 19th century flood defense schemes and the newly created one The new channel is called the Neue Donau New Danube After the completion of the works it was envisaged that the resulting island should eventually be used for recreation The flood control system is designed to protect from flash floods bringing river flows of up to 14 000 m3 per second This has only happened once in Vienna s history in 1501 The heavy 2002 flood brought flows of 10 000 m3 per second It includes the Danube Canal s historic Nussdorf watergate locks at either end of New Danube a groundwater level control system integrated into the right bank flood levee which creates appropriate conditions for the large park area Prater once part of a wide alluvial forest zone and the new Freudenau river plant s sluice 3 The works were started in March 1972 and finished in 1988 The power plant was added from 1992 to 1998 1 Notes edit a b c Flood control on the Danube Facts and figures PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2017 07 29 Retrieved 2017 07 12 Donauinselfest 2010 doch im Juni oesterreich ORF at Donauinselfest 2010 will take place in June after all wiev1 orf at in Austrian German 2009 08 28 Retrieved 2023 06 17 Verbesserter Sluice German References and other external links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Donauinsel Donautech Donauinsel datasheet webpage Official datasheet German Danube Island Vienna Informations and photographs from the Citymagazin www wien konkret at Copa Cagrana at night JPG 22k Danube Island Free Festival Official information English Maps edit Vienna map showing Danube Island English 2008 webpage MapAustria Vienna Simple Interactive Vienna tourist map linked to a short English descriptions of Danube Island and other Vienna tourist spots Better Map of the island by Vienna magistrate it consists of 8 GIFs c 100k each 48 14 N 16 24 E 48 233 N 16 400 E 48 233 16 400 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Donauinsel amp oldid 1214276860, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
