Oosterscheldekering
Holland’s Deltaworks is perhaps mankind’s greatest attempt in keeping the forces of nature at bay. Following the 1953 North Sea flooding, the Dutch took it upon themselves never to experience the wrath of nature again.1
Their response: protecting the entire coastline that was prone to flooding. Figures like 10250 miles of dykes, and 300 amazing structures are staggering indeed. One among them is the Oosterscheldekering. Constructed using custom built ships—Ostrea, this 9km long dam is the world’s largest movable storm surge barrier; and the one that has earned the title of being one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Modern World’ by The American Society of Civil Engineers.
We allowed ourselves to be mesmerized by its sheer magnitude, during our visit there last Saturday.
Deltaworks near Neeltje Jans: Eiland Neeltje Jans, Faelweg 5, 4354 RB Vrouwenpolder, NL.
- So horrendous, that it destroyed about 4500 buildings, drowned over 10000 animals, and killed over 1800 people. [←]