Österreich - Die ganze Geschichte S02E13 - Pegelstand 6m 95

In the great outdoors, we breathe deeply and feel at ease. Yet we often forget that this "free" nature has long been tamed. Before rivers like the Danube were regulated—when they were truly wild—they frequently turned into raging, deadly monsters. The fate of the Fiaker family Fleischer, whose five children were caught in the devastating Danube flood of 1830, reflects an understanding of nature vastly different from our own. A dramatic struggle for survival begins. Only in the 19th century, with its new technological advancements, did it become possible to contain the Danube's torrential power, which channels up to 9,000 cubic meters of water per second.

In this episode, Andreas Pfeifer and Mariella Gittler delve into the era when Austrians began to strip nature of its threatening aspects. Not only were rivers tamed, but the Alps were also conquered and made accessible to recreational hikers. Tourism, bathing culture, and alpine sports were all born from this transformative time.