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| Pictures above: Donauinsel
Floridsdorfer Brücke “Spectacolos” 2005 © Citype |
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The Donauinsel is a multifunctional project at the Danube
with the ostensible purpose of regulating the Danube in the urban
area of Vienna. To this end, a discharge canal for the Danube was
built, providing a recreation area close to town for the Viennese in
the form of an island in the river. |
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| In addition to social functions, the planning
phase, which started in 1975, also allowed for ecological and
economical functions. The following technical measures were
implemented: The construction of a discharge canal parallel to the
left riverbank; today referred to as “New Danube”. |
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The excavation material was used to raise the
Donauinsel, a freestanding island between the main stream
and the discharge canal. The “New Danube” gets a water
supply only during times of flooding, for the rest of the
year the water surface on the New Danube remains even,
comparable to a lake. |
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| The recreation area encompasses 270ha water surface
and 390ha public green space. The Donauinsel is best accessed via
Underground which takes 7 minutes from the city centre. In addition,
both tram and bus have their stops on the 5 bridges of the Danube. The
high-speed railway stops very close-by. In summer, around 300,000 people
frequent the island for bathing, sports and recreation on regular
weekends. On special weekends – such as during the famous
“Donauinselfest” organised by the Vienna Social Democrats in early
summer – or during concerts, there are |
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considerably more visitors. The island itself is divided into
several zones which serve differing purposes: The whole area
consists of sports fields, multiple large meadows, restaurants,
other premises and barbecue areas (except the very outskirts of the
south and north of the island which rather resembles a
“wilderness”), |
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| is crossed by wide foot and bicycle paths. Private
car traffic is prohibited on the entire island. In the south, some of
the bayous of the Danube were retained as small sheets of water. They
now make up a water-meadow-like habitat. The mature poplar forest adds
to the effect. With the construction of the Danube power station
“Freudenau”, another hydraulic engineering project was integrated into
the existing plant. |
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| Donaukraftwerk Freudenau |
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| The following projects were merged into the
Donauinsel: |
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flood control measures;
ground water management for the 2nd and 20th district, the power plant
Freudenau also serves that purpose amongst others;
a new sewage system for the northern districts;
recreation area in the city centre;
reduction of the weekend traffic into the areas surrounding the city;
recovery of the natural habitat of flora and fauna;
hydroelectric power station “Freudenau”;
water supply for the nearby Lobau, a water-meadow and wildlife
sanctuary;
an urban project with the intention of at last integrating the Danube
into the city itself, since Vienna had been perceived rather as being
situated next to the Danube;
proceedings of civic participation where theconstruction of Feudenau
power station was subject to a referendum at which 62% of the people
were in favour.
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The major works were completed in 1988, yet there will always be
changes in the recreation area. Today, the Donauinsel and the New
Danube are not only of importance to the Viennese urban population,
but also to the entire region. |
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Donauinsel
By now, the Donauinsel has developed into a popular
recreation area close to the city for the Viennese population.
Furthermore, in the northern and southern parts, naturist
beaches are situated, which are among the largest such beaches
in close proximity to any large city. Since the 1980s a
multifaceted bar scene developed in the area at the bank
opposite, located at the Reichsbrücke, also known as Copa
Cagrana (named after the nearby district called Kagran) as well
as on the Donauinsel (which has various changing names, at
present: “The Island”). Since 1984, the Donauinsel has hosted a
festival called the Donauinselfest, which takes place on an
annual basis on a weekend towards the end of June (initially in
May). There was, however, a smaller “cultural spring-time
festivity” as early as 1983 in the already completed area around
the Floridsdorfer Brücke. It was considered the predecessor of
the Donauinselfest and was initiated by the SPÖ-politician Harry
Kopietz. At first a small festival, it grew over the years into
a three day event with more than three million visitors and
remains one of the biggest open-air concerts in Europe with free
admission. The festival grounds stretch along several
kilometres; from the Reichsbrücke to the Nordbrücke. |
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in extracts from |
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| WIKIPEDIA - the free
encyclopedia |
| Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia
with more than 100 languages, where everyone can
contribute with their knowledge |
| de.wikipedia.org |
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| The leisure island |
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Free access to sports and recreational activities
Swimming bays with flat beaches
Extensive path network for walkers, joggers, cyclists and skaters
Picnic and barbecue areas
Camping and playing fields
Sports fields with competition equipment
Beach volleyball pitches |
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Additional facilities
Bicycle hire
Surf school
Water slide
Water ski lift
Trampoline facility
Pedal-, rowing- and electric boat hire
Multipurpose sites
Restaurants and catering businesses |
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North and south: sailing boat harbour with slipway
Rowing course
Rowing- and canoe world championship in the year 1991: for this purpose,
the New Danube was extended downstream from the Steinspornbrücke
(rowing: eight lanes at 13.5 metres, canoe: nine lanes at nine metres)
Goal tower, boathouse, infrastructural facilities and grandstand
construction in the region of the Steinspornbrücke |
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| Inspection of the bathing
freshwater of Vienna |
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| During the bathing season, a total of 17 EU swimming
areas are monitored by the Institute of Environmental Medicine (nine at
the New Danube, seven at the Old Danube and one at the Mühlwasser). The
inspections are carried out at intervals of two weeks. After a flooding
in the New Danube, additional checkups are undertaken. At the inspection
site, water transparency, pH-value and oxygen saturation are measured
and the beaches are examined for visible contamination. In the
laboratory, bacteriological and virological examinations of the water
samples taken from the New Danube are carried out. The results are
published regularly on the internet. |
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| Ecological recesses on the
Donauinsel |
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| Dead Ground (Toter Grund) |
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Former Danube bayou – natural monument since 1986
(Viennese law on nature conservation)
Hideaway for animal and plant species of the former flood area |
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| Hüttenteich |
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Developed in a hollow on the isle surface during
construction work
Dense stand of marsh plants and reeds
Habitat for amphibians |
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| Zinkerbachl |
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Small residual bayou: blind end, with connection to
the New Danube
Conservation of a riverbank section as wall of mud: hatchery for
kingfishers
Matured poplar forest |
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| Endelteich |
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Pond in the northern part of the island
“Nursery” for amphibians: important regional spawn waters
Eleven different amphibian breeds: among others common newts, common
toads, brown frogs, fire-bellied toads and European tree frogs |
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| Schwalbenteich |
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Southern part of the island: hatchery for sand
martins
Former humus landfill was transformed
Pond connects the brood walls
Natural habitat for small game |
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| Tritonwasser |
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Large artificial pond on the Donauinsel (two hectare)
Situated between Kaisermühlenbrücke and Praterbrücke
Designed according to ecological aspects
Sophisticated formation of the riverbank |
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| Connection of individual
habitats |
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Linked habitat system
Stepping stone habitats provide a wide variation of plant and animal
species
Section downriver of the Reichsbrücke
Entirely left nature’s own resources
Habitat for partridges |
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from |
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| Webservice of the City of Vienna |
| wien.at unites comprehensive information
and services for all areas of life in the city of Vienna as well
as numerous other services |
| www.wien.gv.at |
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