Flooding on the Arve River

May 07, 2015

Arve flooding

Photographer: Björn Sothmann
Summary AuthorBjörn Sothmann

Heavy rainfall in the area around Geneva, Switzerland, during the last few days of April and first two days of May caused the water level of the Arve River to rise dramatically. The discharge of the river reached about 31,783 cu ft (900 cu m) per second -- the average discharge being 2,754 cu ft (78 cu m) per second. This is the highest value recorded since the start of measurements back in 1935.

The flooding could be clearly seen from the Pont de la Jonction in Geneva. Here, the relatively clear water from the Rhône River, coming out of Lake Geneva, meets the muddy water of the Arve. Normally the Rhône carries more water than the Arve, but in early May, the Arve's flow was greater. Click here to see more pictures of the flooding. Photo taken on May 2, 2015.

Photo details: Canon EOS 600D camera; EF-S18-135 mm; f/3.5-5.6 IS; 18mm focal length; 1/320 sec. exposure time; ISO 100.