The Rivers of Habsburg Galicia: Between Flow and Control (Routledge Environmental History)

Providing an in-depth exploration into the rivers of Habsburg Galicia (part of Austrian Poland) in the 19th century, this volume combines analysis of historical hydrographic data with modern GIS and remote sensing tools.

Considering geographical and historical factors, this book draws on both natural processes and human activities to analyse how river valleys function and highlight contemporary challenges relating to water resource management in the context of climate change. This collection is divided into four sections: Rivers, Flow, Control and Economy. The first section consists of studies on rivers in Galicia from geographical, borderland, legislative and literary perspectives. The second section deals with the floods that regularly affected Galicia in the 19th and 20th centuries, causing significant economic and social damage, providing pertinent parallels with current issues in the context of climate change. The third section analyses the actions of the state and autonomous authorities, aimed at controlling rivers through regulation, the construction of flood embankments and the drainage of wetlands. The final section includes studies on the role of rivers in the economic life.

This is a detailed and fascinating examination for scholars and students interested in Eastern European environmental history, hydrology, environmental management and water resource governance, and environmental economics.

Tomasz Kargol is a Professor in the Department of Polish Modern History at Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.