Pegelhäuschen an der Donau

Along the Nibelungenstraße we come to a larger wooden hut – a gauge house. Behind it, on the bank of the Danube, an information board very clearly explains how such a water level gauge works. Knowledge of the water level (=water height) of the Danube is vital for shipping. However, it also affects the lives of the local population, especially during times of high water. Thus, along the Donausteig, we repeatedly see gauge staffs (=measuring staffs) from which the water level can be read immediately, as well as various types of gauge houses where the water level is documented. Now the question arises: “How is the water level of the Danube actually measured?” The water level is always measured in relation to a gauge zero point. However, this is not at the bottom of the Danube, but slightly below the lowest water mark measured on site over a long period. Important here: the gauge zero point must be chosen so that a negative water level height never occurs! Thus, the water is actually always deeper than the indicated water level. So be careful, if the newspapers report a water height of 70 cm, you cannot necessarily wade through the Danube! The gauge house in Engelhartszell is located directly on the Nibelungenstraße on the Danube and is therefore not to be missed.