Netherlands

Question 1

What is a polder?

Answer 1

piece of low-lying land reclaimed from the sea or a river and protected by dykes

Question 2

What is a dyke?

Answer 2

Dam to hold the water back - like an embankment

Question 3

What major event happened in 1953?

Answer 3

The North Sea Flood

Question 4

What happened as a result of the North Sea Flood?

Answer 4

Tidal surge
Exceeded 5.6m above sea level
1835 killed in Netherlands and 137 in UK

Question 5

What is the Rhine Drainage basin?

Answer 5

When lots of water flows down into low lying countries - Netherlands

Question 6

What is at risk in the Netherlands?

Answer 6

Rotterdam - largest port in Europe is here and is 7m below sea level and lowest point in Holland

Question 7

What have they done to reduce risk?

Answer 7

Maeslantkering storm surge barrier (protects local horticulture, Rotterdam harbour & surrounding towns)
Dyke along River Holland se Vssel
Windmills pump water from polders over dyke to canals and sea
Defland Sand Motor - 21.5 mil.m3 of sand deposited around south of Holland

Question 8

What are some positive effects of the Defland Sand Motor?

Answer 8

Atrracted new birds and other biodiversity as lagoon formed
Created jobs as very thorough and regular monitoring process as such a huge scheme
More vegetation in nearby sand dunes