Defense Systems

April 16, 2011- Today was our excursion to the Delta Plan in Zeeland in the southern part of the country.  The Delta Plan is basically a system of levees, dams, locks, dikes, and sluices that protect the Netherlands from flooding and storm surges.  The different barriers to the sea are located throughout the delta region and each has a different function.  Some of the sluices are only closed when there is a storm surge.  Others protect the fresh water from the salt water.  Another is only used during a high storm surge.  This barrier is known as the Maeslant barrier which is closed approximately once every ten years.  This barrier is two massive metal arms that swing out into the water when in use.  The arms first float to the closed position through letting air inside the structure and when in position, the air is released and the arms sink to the bottom.  This structure is a huge engineering feat as it is the largest movable structure in the world!  From an engineering standpoint, these barriers were very cool to see and how they worked.  Like the Oosterscheldekering, or Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier, where we were able to walk inside one of the structures and see how everything worked.  During the construction of these sluices, large specialized boats were constructed in order to place these sluices in the correct place with great accuracy.  Throughout the course of the day, we saw many different types of barriers to the sea, each with their own design and purpose.  Water defense is an ongoing battle and the Dutch have learned ways to work alongside the forces of the sea.  The Dutch are definitely the best at controlling water.