VOA新闻杂志2024--Reservoir in Poland Praised for Blocking major Flooding

Reservoir¹ in Poland Praised for Blocking major Flooding

A reservoir in Poland built to prevent flooding is being praised for doing its job well after major floodwaters hit the area.

The anti-flood reservoir, called the Lower Raciborz Reservoir, sits on the Oder River. It is near the Polish cities of Opole and Wroclaw.

The project was first imagined in 1997, when the "flood of the century" hit the two cities, causing major damage. Work was completed on the water body in 2020.

Over the past week, heavy rains have created major floodwaters across central Europe. Officials in Poland have struggled to keep waters from flowing out of the Oder River into nearby communities. The Associated Press reported the flooding across central Europe killed at least 24 people.

But people living in Opole and Wroclaw are now crediting² the reservoir with saving³ the areas from severe flooding and destruction⁴. Locals told the AP that the reservoir successfully flattened⁵ a huge wave created by the flooded Oder.

Some people who remembered the 1997 flood disaster watched carefully to see whether the newly⁶ finished reservoir would effectively do its job. And it did.

The reservoir's performance led to some public attention on social media. Some individuals gave the water body honorable⁷ names. These included "National Hero," "King of Gold" and "Raciborz Reservoir the Great." Other social media messages suggested the reservoir should be named after Poland's famous football goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

The anti-flood reservoir was built following lessons learned⁸ from the severe flooding of 1997. The project took about $520 million to build. Part of the money came from the European Union and World Bank. Two villages had to be resettled to complete the reservoir.

When it opened in 2020, the water body covered 26 square kilometers of wildland. It can hold up to 185 million cubic meters of floodwater.

People living in Opole and Wroclaw said the Oder reached extreme heights. But, they said, the reservoir caught the floodwaters. Water never flowed out into the streets.

Some areas not covered by the reservoir system suffered heavy flooding.

Last week, European Union chief Ursula van der Leyen promised the EU would provide billions of dollars in aid to affected⁹ communities in Central Europe. Among other nations suffering severe flood destruction are Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.

Words in This Story

reservoir - n. a large natural or manmade lake used as a source of water supply

lesson - n. an experience that teaches you something

1 reservoir   

n.水库，蓄水池；(人才等的)储藏，汇集

参考例句：

• The town is supplied with water from a reservoir.该城镇由小山中的一座水库供水。
• A large quantity of water is stored in the reservoir.水库存了大量的水。

2 crediting   

vt.相信，信任（credit的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• Improving the legislation and regulation on our crediting. 其二，完善我国信用方面的法律法规。 来自互联网
• The EPA is crediting biodiesel made from soybean oil with only percent reduction. 据环保署目前的评估，豆基生物柴油的减排量仅达到22％。 来自互联网

3 saving   

n.节省，节约；[pl.]储蓄金，存款

参考例句：

• Energy saving is term strategic policy of our country.节约能源是我国长期的战略国策。
• Old-fashioned housewives were usually very saving.旧时的家庭主妇通常都很节俭。

4 destruction   

n.破坏，毁灭，消灭

参考例句：

• The enemy bombs caused widespread destruction.敌人的炸弹造成大面积的破坏。
• Overconfidence was his destruction.自负是他垮台的原因。

5 flattened   

[医]（水）平扁的，弄平的

参考例句：

• She flattened her nose and lips against the window. 她把鼻子和嘴唇紧贴着窗户。
• I flattened myself against the wall to let them pass. 我身体紧靠着墙让他们通过。

6 newly   

adv.新近，最近；重新，再度；以新的方式

参考例句：

• Have you reviewed for this newly published novel?你给这本新出版的小说写书评了吗？
• It is a newly planted tree and it has not established yet.这是一颗新栽的树，还没有扎下根来。

7 honorable   

adj.光荣的，荣誉的；可敬的，高尚的

参考例句：

• I don't think I am worthy of such an honorable title.这样的光荣称号，我可担当不起。
• These businessmen are both competitive and honorable.这些商人既有竞争性又很诚实。

8 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

9 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。