Flood Barriers
The port of Rotterdam and its surrounding area is susceptible to a storm surge from the North Sea. In the Delta Works flood protection plan various options have been considered for protecting Rotterdam. Finally a unique design was built, the Maeslantkering. This flood barrier consists of two huge doors that normally rest in a dry dock besides the Nieuwe Waterweg. When a flood of 3 metres (9.8 ft) above NAP (mean sealevel) is predicted the gates are floated into positions, like caissons, and sunk in place. When the waterlevel recedes enough to open the gates are floated back into their docks. Another barrier, the hartelkering is situated in the Hartelkanaal.
Read more about this topic: Port Of Rotterdam
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