Geographia Polonica (2004) vol. 77, iss. 2

Changes in middle course of the river Vistula in historical times

Joanna Plit

Geographia Polonica (2004) vol. 77, iss. 2, pp. 47-61 | Full text

An attempt is made to reconstruct the sequence of change in a part of the Middle Vistulavalley between the 11th and late 20th centuries, using historical methods. The most detailedanalysis was possible for the changes of the last 250 years. It was possible to document the timeof the onset of the change in the character of the river from dominantly meandering to one thatwas characterised by braiding, suggesting the anthropogenic influences that have modified thenatural processes (for example: deforestation, changes in rural management, development offlood embankments).

Keywords: Vistula river valley, historical analyses, bed river channel changes

Joanna Plit [plitjo@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland