Driving in the late afternoon winter light with the sun shining straight in our eyes through the Flevopolder.
Not much traffic, and looking at all this land gained from the water, isn't it a miracle.
Yesterday we had heavy storms again with high tide, but the dikes protects us very well for floodings. In the south of the country the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier had to be closed last night which only happens when there is a real danger for floods. Last time it was closed was in 2006.
Read here about this amazing ingenious construction.
See for more Skywatches here
Thanks for the link; it's an ingenious construction.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSince Hurricane Sandy hit New York City, designers have been hard at work studying the Dutch system with an eye to how it could be put to work protecting that city's shores.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenYes, I know, New Orleans had also asked for help after Katrina. You have to do something, otherwise it will happen again and again. The sea level is rising globaly.
VerwijderenYes, your Dutch Construction of dykes is one of the best in the world. It is amazing what mankind and construction can build today. Have a wonderful day Marianne :)
BeantwoordenVerwijderenMooi beeld, echt Nederlands.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenVery beautiful photo for SWF! Have a nice weekend.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI remember watching a spot on PBS about that water containment system and like you mentioned above the program was about preventing another Sandy and Katrina disaster here in the States.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWhat a very interesting link Marianne. I love to learn something new every day. The Oosterscheldekering (how do you even pronounce this word) is an amazing construction.. it made me think anout the Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenDearest Marianne,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThe entire Netherlands is a marvel in a way; being about 60% below sea level and for securing such a densely populated country from getting inundated! The saying goes: God created the world and the Dutch created The Netherlands and they literally did by reclaiming so much land from the Zuiderzee (South Sea) by cutting it off with a huge dike and draining it for the biggest part. The Dutch are the worldwide experts for disasters where flooding is involved. Even for the sinking city of Venice they were called in and New Orleans flood defense system of course. In Bangladesh for helping them with long term flood protection etc. etc.
Slowly the experience gained with the Delta works will pay off and for saving so many lives has been worth all the tax money we paid (yes, we still partake!).
But pondering the very fact that you were actually driving on the soil where once a fierce sea took the lives of so many is good!
Hugs,
Mariette
Beautiful sky ! I read your comment on +60 blog, so there is a Winter (or Xmas) market now in Amsterdam ? We have spent a few Xmas in Amsterdam and I found the city so sad and not decorated at all ! That's why I never went to the center again. But I am talking of the first Xmas in Amsterdam 7 years ago. There really was nothing !
BeantwoordenVerwijderenRiding in to the sunset like in an old western movie. There are some places in the U.S. that could benefit from a storm surge barrier.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenthe storm was quite crazy again!! no more downed trees in your area?
BeantwoordenVerwijderenyes, it is amazing that the dutch can make land from water... :)