Eider Barrage, Flood barrier in Tönning, Germany
The Eider Barrage is a large flood defense structure crossing the Eider River where it meets the North Sea. The structure contains multiple metal gates that open and close to manage water levels and allow ships to pass through.
This flood defense system was built during the 1960s and 1970s in response to severe coastal storms. Engineers strengthened the structure decades later to better protect the inland region from storm surge and high tides.
The Eider Barrage represents northern German engineering excellence through its integration of flood protection systems with maritime transportation infrastructure.
You can walk or drive across the barrage and stop at viewpoints to observe the gates and the waters below. The crossing offers clear views of the North Sea and the tidal movements that the gates control.
The barrage combines engineering techniques added over several decades, with reinforcements from different periods visible in its structure. This layering of improvements reveals how coastal defense technology has evolved as engineers responded to new challenges.
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