Estimation of the environmental damage of floods in Russia at the end of the 20th century

This paper deals with outlining the main causes of floods. We analyze statistical data on the number of largest floods and the number of people in Russia affected by this phenomenon. We also classify floods by their causes and reveal the defining relationship between the number of floods and the number of spring high waters caused by melting snow and ice. This paper states the positive and negative aspects of using reservoirs as tools of changing nature for human benefit. We justify the need of combining engineering and non-engineering means of flood protection and evaluate the environmental damage of floods.