海河流域历史上曾是一个洪涝灾害频繁的地区。本世纪以来的1917、1924、1939、1956和1963年等大水年份,均有百县以上受灾,淹没耕地少者二、三千万亩,多者可达五、六千万亩。自十七世纪以来的1607、1626、1737、1801、1890年洪水曾5次波及北京市区;而1653、1654、1668、1801、1871、1890、1917和1939等8年都淹及现今的天津市区,1939年 The Hai Basin has historically been a flood-prone area. Since the 1917, 1924, 1939, 1956, 1963 and other major flood years, more than 100 counties have been affected and 20,000 or 30 million mu of submerged cultivated land have been flooded, with more than 50,000 to 60 million mu of land. The floods of 1607, 1626, 1737, 1801 and 1890 since the 17th century have affected Beijing urban areas five times, while the years of 1653, 1654, 1668, 1801, 1871, 1890, 1917 and 1939 have been flooded to present-day Tianjin Downtown, 1939