Johann Gottfried Tulla
Encyclopedia
Johann Gottfried Tulla was a German engineer, who in the nineteenth century accomplished the straightening of the Rhine, improving navigation and alleviating the effects of flooding. His measures gave the upper Rhine a completely new appearance. The river was deepened and channeled between embankments, new sections were dug to straighten out the river's original meandering course, and numerous small islands were removed. The effect was to reduce the river's length between Basel
and Worms
from 355 km to 275 km (220 to 170 miles). The straightening of the upper Rhine dramatically increased the flood risk in the region of the middle and lower Rhine.
. In 1795 he began to study chemistry and mineralogy at the Mining Academy in Freiberg, Saxony
. Subsequently, he was transferred to the government service in Baden
. Further training in Paris followed in 1801, but he was called back to Karlsruhe after a year. There he was appointed to the rank of captain in 1803. Starting in 1807 he worked in Switzerland
on the channeling project on the Linth
river. Also in 1807 he was one of the founders of the school of engineering, which was the predecessor of the University of Karlsruhe. He was promoted several times in subsequent years, in 1809 to major and in 1814 to lieutenant colonel. In 1817 he was appointed director of the Oberdirektion des Wasser- und Straßenbaues (Command of water- and road construction). In this office he was instrumental in planning the stabilizing and straightening of the course of the upper Rhine, a huge river engineering
project that continued until 1879, long after his death.
The appointment to officer of the French Légion d'honneur
followed in 1827; one year later Tulla died of the consequences of malaria
.
Tulla was buried at the Montmartre Cemetery
in Paris. His gravestone shows the so called "Altrip corner", one of the technically most difficult sections of the Rhine straightening, near the Palatinate village of Altrip
.
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
and Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
from 355 km to 275 km (220 to 170 miles). The straightening of the upper Rhine dramatically increased the flood risk in the region of the middle and lower Rhine.
Career
Tulla began his training in 1792 with Karl Christian von LangsdorfKarl Christian von Langsdorf
Karl Christian von Langsdorf, also known as Carl Christian von Langsdorff, was a German mathematician, geologist, natural scientist and engineer.-Life:...
. In 1795 he began to study chemistry and mineralogy at the Mining Academy in Freiberg, Saxony
Freiberg, Saxony
Freiberg is a city in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, administrative center of the Mittelsachsen district.-History:The city was founded in 1186, and has been a center of the mining industry in the Ore Mountains for centuries...
. Subsequently, he was transferred to the government service in Baden
Grand Duchy of Baden
The Grand Duchy of Baden was a historical state in the southwest of Germany, on the east bank of the Rhine. It existed between 1806 and 1918.-History:...
. Further training in Paris followed in 1801, but he was called back to Karlsruhe after a year. There he was appointed to the rank of captain in 1803. Starting in 1807 he worked in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
on the channeling project on the Linth
Linth
The Linth is a Swiss river starting above Linthal the mountains of Glarus near the Klausen Pass and flowing from there north through the Glarus valley passing Schwanden, where it is joined by its main tributary Sernft, Ennenda, the town of Glarus, Netstal, and Näfels, from where it is channeled to...
river. Also in 1807 he was one of the founders of the school of engineering, which was the predecessor of the University of Karlsruhe. He was promoted several times in subsequent years, in 1809 to major and in 1814 to lieutenant colonel. In 1817 he was appointed director of the Oberdirektion des Wasser- und Straßenbaues (Command of water- and road construction). In this office he was instrumental in planning the stabilizing and straightening of the course of the upper Rhine, a huge river engineering
River engineering
River engineering is the process of planned human intervention in the course, characteristics or flow of a river with the intention of producing some defined benefit. People have intervened in the natural course and behaviour of rivers since before recorded history - to manage the water resources,...
project that continued until 1879, long after his death.
The appointment to officer of the French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
followed in 1827; one year later Tulla died of the consequences of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
.
Tulla was buried at the Montmartre Cemetery
Montmartre Cemetery
Montmartre Cemetery is a cemetery in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, France.-History:Cemeteries had been banned from Paris since the shutting down of the Cimetière des Innocents in 1786, as they presented health hazards...
in Paris. His gravestone shows the so called "Altrip corner", one of the technically most difficult sections of the Rhine straightening, near the Palatinate village of Altrip
Altrip
Altrip is a municipality in the Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.It is situated on the left bank of the Rhine, approx. 7 km southeast of Ludwigshafen.-References:...
.