Vienna Daily: April 2010

Sorry for the recurring theme...I still have loads of shots taken at the Wasserpark, though hopefully I'd have some other theme next week.

I haven't researched if this is part of the man-made lake created some years ago. It was when the area gets flooded that the city decided to divert the waters by excavating a channel called the Neue Donau (New Danube) creating an island in between called the Donauinsel (Danube Island). The New Danube waterway is practically an elongated (swimming) lake, technically a diluvian bed.

The main purpose of the island however is to be part of Vienna's highly sophisticated flood protection system. As the mighty river Danube crosses the town (before major extensions: passed nearby), this had constantly been a concern for hundreds of years. The first remarkable measures were taken in 1870–1875: 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 realized: digging an additional diluvian bed to replace the former inundation area, and throwing up the dugout in the remaining strip of land between the straightened bed (as it exists since the 19th century river training) and the newly created one, now being called Neue Donau. As an addendum, the thus created island should eventually be used for recreation. The flood control system is designed to protect from flash floods bringing up to 14,000 m3 per second (which in Vienna's history was recorded once, in 1501; the heavy 2002 flood brought 10,000 m3 per second). It includes the Danube Canal's historic Nußdorf watergate, locks on either end of New Danube, a groundwater level control system integrated into the right bank flood levee (granting appropriate conditions for the large park area Prater, once part of a wide alluvial forest zone), and the new Freudenau river plant's sluice.

The works were started in March 1972 and finished in 1988.The river plant was added from 1992 to 1998. (Wikipedia)

Nowadays, the island serves as a recreation area for both tourists and locals. In June, we have the Donauinsel fest which International artists take part in performing. The island is festive for 3 days with lots of food, rides and other activities. On usual days, it's just pretty and quiet and enjoyed by the likes of me who likes to skywatch and takes photos of flowers and the surrounding.

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(Austrian President Heinz Fischer and First Lady Margit Fischer)

See those warm smiles? Those were how prominency greeted us, some of Vienna's residents who took part in the So schoen ist Wien Fotowettbewerb (loosely translated as 'So beautiful is Vienna photo contest'/Vienna is so beautiful photo contest). I am not aware of the contest until the final week that it was running. I almost forgot to join but managed to somehow send a handful of entries but they were not necessarily the best in my collection. During deadline, I lined up the photos that I'd be submitting, alas! I fell asleep and woke up 5 minutes before 12 midnight...so I left it at that, with the idea that nothing from my photos would be selected.

Couple of weeks later, I received an email that somehow one, yes, a lone photo of mine was included for the 1000 selection to be included in a photo book and displayed on billboards in different parts of the city. I was also sent an invitation to attend this event, as a thank you from Vienna's Mayor Dr. Michael Häupl (pronounced hoypell) and Austrian President Heinz Fischer. It, I think, was a good campaign strategy for the latter's candidacy too. The elections will be held on April 25 with only 3 candidates vying for the seat. Fischer is seeking to win his second term (6 years).

President Fischer and wife, first lady Margit, were as how they look, warm and accommodating. Would you believe that there were no bodyguards around? (Well, none that I saw.) Surely very different from how politicians in the Philippines were (only talking about those I met while covering certain news events).

Anyway, I was able to get some good angles being the smallest in the swarm of photographers around. lol. They don't mind me being in front because I don't block their lenses. :D Should you want to see more photos click the companion blog page. CDP (city daily photo) blogs are supposed to be one a day and I normally post two but today, just for today I'm posting 3.

(Viennese Mayor Dr. Michael Häupl)

I have known Mayor Häupl as Vienna's mayor since I came here 7 years ago. He's been seated since 1994. What I didn't know was he is a man of humor. We were all just having fun at the photo session because he was such a big sport!

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