Doesn’t this Hochwasser Stele make you reflect? It stands here as a silent witness to the power of nature. The Hochwasser Stele commemorates the devastating Rhine flood of 1993.
This flood, also known as the “Christmas Flood”, was a century flood. It affected the Middle and Lower Rhine and other tributaries in southwestern Germany in December 1993 and January 1994. Imagine the sheer volume of water.
The Rhine’s high water became noticeable from the Neckar estuary. The Main did not flood. An extreme flood from the Nahe at Bingen caused a 25-year flood. The Moselle peaked at Koblenz on December 23. It met the Rhine’s peak at the same time. In Koblenz, the Rhine level rose to 9.52 meters. That was the highest level since 1784. A quarter of the city center was under water.
Bonn recorded its highest level of the 20th century on December 25, 1993. The water reached 10.13 meters. A construction site was flooded resulting in millions of damages. Cologne’s flood on December 24, 1993, reached 10.63 meters. It remained just below the Rhine floods of 1926 and 1995. Vast areas were flooded in Cologne. Over 100,000 people were directly affected.
Trier recorded a level of 11.28 m on December 22. The highest flood since 1784 was measured on the lower Moselle. The Mosel bridge in Bernkastel-Kues was closed due to the risk of collapse.
The total damage of the 1993 Rhine flood was estimated at 400–500 million euros. After further high levels in 1995, cooperation was intensified. North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse worked with France. They aimed to implement a flood protection program. This included the construction of polders and retention basins.
The Hochwasser Stele serves as a reminder. It shows us the importance of flood protection measures. It is a symbol of the Rhine’s power. It stands as a warning. Let us remember the lessons learned. Let us appreciate the strength. Let us honor the resilience of the people affected by the flood. The Hochwasser Stele is more than just a marker. It embodies a moment of reflection.