Hi there!
I read something interesting in one of the last issues of S&G.
If you don't know the S&G yet, check it out here.
The S&G article referred to a Spiegel article from July of this year with the headline:
"The Elbe reaches a historic low near Magdeburg".
Excerpt from the Spiegel text:
"The water level of the Elbe near Magdeburg has fallen to an all-time low.
The water level at the Strombrücke measured 44 centimeters.
That would be the lowest water level ever measured at this point".
Other media also sensed the opportunity and ran headlines such as: "Elbe at lowest water level ever", which was Bild.
And: "The water level of the Elbe in Magdeburg is lower than ever," says MDR.
The Spiegel article continues: "The environmental protection organization BUND is alarmed.
In view of the low water levels, she is calling for an end to shipping on the Elbe.
Change of subject:
If you happen to need a postcard of the beautiful place where I'm standing right now, but you don't like the relatively new bridge
in the background, I have a postcard of what I think is the previous bridge, which
was a few hundred meters further downstream.
The postcard is a little older, from 1904.
Here you can see the former bridge and below it a few children splashing around in the remains of the Elbe.
15 centimeters above zero at the measuring point.
Perhaps I should send this postcard to Der Spiegel later with a few helpful explanations on the back, for example that
comparing the water level readings is a tricky business because the Elbe has been dredged several times for shipping.
Today, the Elbe bed is deeper, the riverbed narrower and the water flows faster as a result.
The same water level usually results in a higher water flow rate than before.
The water level has been measured in Magdeburg since 1772.
The lowest documented flow rate of the Elbe at the Magdeburg river bridge examined in Spiegel is not this year's approx. 130 cubic
meters per second, but 95 cubic meters per second from 1904.
Let's take a closer look at the example year 1904.
The Sächsische Zeitung published some pictures.
If you can't compare the level, let's compare the pictures.
Here, too, you can see children bathing.
People searching for treasures that had fallen into the river and boats that were driven along the
banks on horse-drawn carriages by their owners as a gag.
Or a little round of skat under the bridge pillar.
The whole article in the Sächsische Zeitung describes the many small, special events on the
dried-up Elbe in a relatively cheerful and relaxed tone.
Without today's caring and obliging media, did people back then simply not think far enough to
allow the panic required for such a situation?
Here is a video of the "low-level disaster year 2025" for direct visual comparison.
If this year is the worst year since water level records began, then why, comments the SZ :
"Crossing the river now, despite the supposedly low level, is life-threatening.
But in 1904 even that was possible." End of quote.
The MDR also warns: "The police point out that the water level does not correspond to the actual water depth.
It is still not possible to cross the Elbe on foot.
Any attempts would be life-threatening due to the current."
Aha, all right.
The worst drying out of the Elbe was probably also a bit "asymptomatic" and not so clearly
perceptible, as is often the case with corona.
Now the question remains as to why our media try to use every even halfway useful event in the
direction of climate catastrophe for our climate education?
This question is examined in this very good Kla.TV report, which I would like to recommend to you here.
Small spoiler: The origin, the initiators and also the names of the profiteers of this business model
are clearly stated here and how the whole thing works.
So check it out! Ciao.