The ”’Oathbreaker’s flood”’ ([[Finnish language|Finnish]]: ”Valapaton tulva”) was a great [[flood]] that happened in [[Finland]] in spring 1899. The flood was named the “Oathbreaker’s flood” because in February 1899, the [[Emperor of Russia]] and Grand Duke of Finland [[Nicholas II]] gave the [[February Manifesto]], which narrowed the autonomous status of Finland and, as the Finns thought, broke the oath he had given when he ascended as the new emperor.<ref>[https://runeberg.org/tieto/10/0257.html Valapaton viiva], ”Tietosanakirja” volume 10, paragraph 482. Tietosanakirja company, 1919.</ref>
The ”’Oathbreaker’s flood”’ ([[Finnish language|Finnish]]: ”Valapaton tulva”) was a great [[flood]] that happened in [[Finland]] in spring 1899. The flood was named the “Oathbreaker’s flood” because in February 1899, the [[Emperor of Russia]] and Grand Duke of Finland [[Nicholas II]] gave the [[February Manifesto]], which narrowed the autonomous status of Finland and, as the Finns thought, broke the oath he had given when he ascended as the new emperor.<ref>[https://runeberg.org/tieto/10/0257.html Valapaton viiva], ”Tietosanakirja” volume 10, paragraph 482. Tietosanakirja company, 1919.</ref>
Reasons for the flood included numerous rainy preceding years, the snowy winter of 1898-1899 and the warm spring of 1899. The flood particularly concerned the water areas of the rivers [[Kokemäenjoki]], [[Kymijoki]] and [[Vuoksi]].<ref name=”kuusisto”>Kuusisto, Esko: [https://web.archive.org/web/20130417051552/http://www.ymparisto.fi/default.asp?contentid=278517&lan=fi&clan=fi Valapaton viiva]]. ”Ympäristö” magazine, issue #3, 7 May 2008.</ref> For example the water level of the lake [[Päijänne]] was 193 cm higher than normal.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120526072404/http://www.ymparisto.fi/default.asp?contentid=56171 Vesistöjen vedenkorkeuden seuranta], Finnish Environment Institute. Accessed on 28 October 2010.</ref> This kind of flood is estimated to happen once every 100 to 150 years.
Reasons for the flood included numerous rainy preceding years, the snowy winter of 1898-1899 and the warm spring of 1899. The flood particularly concerned the water areas of the rivers [[Kokemäenjoki]], [[Kymijoki]] and [[Vuoksi]].<ref name=”kuusisto”>Kuusisto, Esko: [https://web.archive.org/web/20130417051552/http://www.ymparisto.fi/default.asp?contentid=278517&lan=fi&clan=fi Valapaton viiva]. ”Ympäristö” magazine, issue #3, 7 May 2008.</ref> For example the water level of the lake [[Päijänne]] was 193cm higher than normal.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120526072404/http://www.ymparisto.fi/default.asp?contentid=56171 Vesistöjen vedenkorkeuden seuranta], Finnish Environment Institute. Accessed on 28 October 2010.</ref> This kind of flood is estimated to happen once every 100 to 150 years.
The Oathbreaker’s flood was an important inspiration for the founding of the ”Hydrographic institute”, the predecessor of the [[Finnish Environment Institute]]. The committee appointed by the [[Senate of Finland]] in 1899 to investigate the damages caused by the flood estimated the flood damages of the 1898-1899 period to be about 10 million [[Finnish markka|markka]].
The Oathbreaker’s flood was an important inspiration for the founding of the ”Hydrographic institute”, the predecessor of the [[Finnish Environment Institute]]. The committee appointed by the [[Senate of Finland]] in 1899 to investigate the damages caused by the flood estimated the flood damages of the 1898-1899 period to be about 10 million [[Finnish markka|markka]].
* Schönberg, Kalle: [https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9866903 Vuonna 1899 iskenyt suurtulva vei talotkin mennessään – uusi tuhotulva on vieläkin mahdollinen], ”Yle – Uutiset – kotimaa” 7 October 2017. Accessed on 21 June 2018.
* Schönberg, Kalle: [https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9866903 Vuonna 1899 iskenyt suurtulva vei talotkin mennessään – uusi tuhotulva on vieläkin mahdollinen], ”Yle – Uutiset – kotimaa” 7 October 2017. Accessed on 21 June 2018.
* Pykälistö, Pasi: [https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/181399/Pykalisto_Pasi_Progradu_2017.pdf Valapaton tulva Kymenlaaksossa 1898-1910 – paikallisyhteisö ja luonnonkatastrofi autonomian ajan lopulla], Master’s Thesis 6 March 2017, [[University of Helsinki]]. Accessed on 21 June 2018.
* Pykälistö, Pasi: [https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/181399/Pykalisto_Pasi_Progradu_2017.pdf Valapaton tulva Kymenlaaksossa 1898-1910 – paikallisyhteisö ja luonnonkatastrofi autonomian ajan lopulla], Master’s Thesis 6 March 2017, [[University of Helsinki]]. Accessed on 21 June 2018.
* [https://digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi/sanomalehti/binding/1953244?page=21 Tulva Tammerkoskessa 40 vuotta sitten], ”[[Aamulehti]]” 21 May 1939, issue #134, p. 21.
* [https://digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi/sanomalehti/binding/1953244?page=21 Tulva Tammerkoskessa 40 vuotta sitten], ”[[Aamulehti]]” 21 May 1939, issue #134, p.21.
[[Category:Natural disasters in Finland]]
[[Category:Natural disasters in Finland]]
The Oathbreaker’s flood (Finnish: Valapaton tulva) was a great flood that happened in Finland in spring 1899. The flood was named the “Oathbreaker’s flood” because in February 1899, the Emperor of Russia and Grand Duke of Finland Nicholas II gave the February Manifesto, which narrowed the autonomous status of Finland and, as the Finns thought, broke the oath he had given when he ascended as the new emperor.[1]
Reasons for the flood included numerous rainy preceding years, the snowy winter of 1898-1899 and the warm spring of 1899. The flood particularly concerned the water areas of the rivers Kokemäenjoki, Kymijoki and Vuoksi.[2] For example the water level of the lake Päijänne was 193 cm higher than normal.[3] This kind of flood is estimated to happen once every 100 to 150 years.
The Oathbreaker’s flood was an important inspiration for the founding of the Hydrographic institute, the predecessor of the Finnish Environment Institute. The committee appointed by the Senate of Finland in 1899 to investigate the damages caused by the flood estimated the flood damages of the 1898-1899 period to be about 10 million markka.
The flood did not claim any human lives. Only one horse attached to a carriage drowned.[4]
Oathbreaker’s lines
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Oathbreaker’s lines (Finnish: Valapaton viivat) are markings of record-high water surfaces marked on coastal cliffs in 1899.[2][4] Many of these lines survive to this day, and they still mark the water level in 1899. Some of the lines were painted red.[5]
