Flood history of the Linth plain

"If only the dams would hold!" Thousands of people trembled at Lake Walen and Linth in June 1910, after days of rainfall. In September 1953, the same fear again. Then, in 1999, there was a once-in-a-century flood on the Linth Canal. And already in August 2005 there was another flood.

May 1999

Ascension Thursday: Disaster Alert! Bring all people to safety, load the cattle and, above all, strengthen the dams. All emergency services are working tirelessly, all available auxiliary forces and machines are deployed. For a short time, the situation eases. But then, after further rainfall, the Linth reaches a new record level on Whit Saturday and all helpers have to withdraw immediately: There is an acute danger of dam failure! A big sigh of relief after the Pentecost weekend, when the water levels finally drop. The existing emergency management concept has proven its worth.

August 2005

Heavy rains bring death and devastation to Switzerland. At the Linthwerk there is again the highest alert level. The water on the Escher Canal in Mollis rises more than three meters. The next day, the fire brigade discovers cracks in the dam of the Hintergraben below Giessen. Evacuations are ordered as the level on the Linth Canal reaches the level of flood alert. Another day later, a disaster water alert is declared due to the critical condition of the dam. The intercantonal coordination staff and the plant security are working day and night to secure the critical dams through immediate construction measures and with the help of sandbags. Finally, the situation improved and analyses showed that the measures taken after the flood event of 1999 were correct: the areas that were improved at that time remained intact. 

Almost every generation on the Linth knows the fear of flooding not only from hearsay, but from their own experience. As early as the 18th century, the correction of the Linth was decided by the Federal Diet. At the time, the intervention was the largest hydraulic engineering project ever undertaken under the direction of Hans Konrad Escher. From 1807 until his death in 1823, he implemented this pioneering project at the head of the Linth company at great personal sacrifice. From 1807 until his death in 1823 he worked on the correction of the Linth at great personal sacrifice. This pioneering deed earned him the honorary title of "von der Linth".

Even today, flood protection is considered the most important task of the Linthwerk.

Source: www.linthwerk.ch

Learn more about the Linth correction and flood protection in the Linth Plain during a visit to the open-air museum of the Linthwerk or the Linth-Escher Auditorium!