Shift of Euphrates river - Historum

Nadir · May 28th, 2012, 01:27 PM

I read that in 18 century BC Euphrates river shifts for unknown reason.
Any ideas?

RollingWave · May 28th, 2012, 05:46 PM

Rivers which flows through a large plain are known to shift course throughout history, that's nothing new, known major shift of course in the Yellow River through out Chinese history is over 20 times, on average it essentially shift course once every 100-200 year

the reason for the shift is usually major floods which changes the dynamics of relative height. which obviously show why it's harder for rivers in mountainous areas to shfit course... you'd have to wash down entire moutnains to shift, but on the plains it's relatively simple, especially after man started diking the rivers.

**Zeno** · May 29th, 2012, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RollingWave

Rivers which flows through a large plain are known to shift course throughout history, that's nothing new, known major shift of course in the Yellow River through out Chinese history is over 20 times, on average it essentially shift course once every 100-200 year

the reason for the shift is usually major floods which changes the dynamics of relative height. which obviously show why it's harder for rivers in mountainous areas to shfit course... you'd have to wash down entire moutnains to shift, but on the plains it's relatively simple, especially after man started diking the rivers.

Don't you mean "...especially before man started diking..."?

**Frank81** · May 29th, 2012, 12:14 PM

Not in China Zeno, for example due to Yellow River milenial channelization and human alteration, the river is some metres above the plain. If the dikes aren't properly cared, something usual in periods of turmoil, the river breaks the walls and does huge shiftings, in the order of hundreds of kms, killing millions people. This happened a lot of times in Chinese history, the last one in 1931.

I think something similar happens in Mesopotamia, but I should look for.

**Zeno** · May 29th, 2012, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank81

Not in China Zeno, for example due to Yellow River milenial channelization and human alteration, the river is some metres above the plain. If the dikes aren't properly cared, something usual in periods of turmoil, the river breaks the walls and does huge shiftings, in the order of hundreds of kms, killing millions people. This happened a lot of times in Chinese history, the last one in 1931.

I think something similar happens in Mesopotamia, but I should look for.

Ah, i see. Thanks Frank!

RollingWave · May 29th, 2012, 05:23 PM

yes, and even with proper care there's only so much you can protect against, serious catastrophic floods are still going to happen eventually. this is the dilemma faced with Chinese civil engineer throughout the centuries, the more they do to protect against yearly flooding, the more likely that when they inevitablly fail sometimes down the line the result would be utterly horrific.