1931 Flood Mark

On a corner stone block in the plinth of the Wroblewski Library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, a line has been carved with an inscription marking the date of the 1931 flood and the highest water level reached. In April 1931 the Neris and the Vilnia burst their banks and flooded the lower-lying streets of Vilnius. On 26 April the highest water level ever recorded in the city's history was registered – 825 cm. The water flooded Cathedral Square, and the vaults of the Cathedral were submerged up to the ceiling. Residents had to row boats between the houses, and about 2,000 people were left homeless. The flood destroyed or swept away about 4,000 buildings.