Afsluitdijk, Dam between North Holland and Friesland, Netherlands
The Afsluitdijk is a 32.5 kilometer long dam between North Holland and Friesland that carries a road and bicycle path over former seawater. The structure runs straight across the water and connects two provinces directly to each other.
Construction started in 1927 using artificial work islands for support and finished in 1932 after closing off the former Zuiderzee. The project transformed the saltwater sea into the freshwater lake called the Ijsselmeer and marked a turning point in Dutch water management.
The name comes from the Dutch word "afsluiten," meaning to seal off, reflecting the dam's role in blocking the sea. Visitors here experience the direct transition between two provinces while crossing open water.
Drivers need about half an hour to cross, while cyclists should plan for over an hour depending on wind conditions. Wind can be strong on the open water, so appropriate clothing is important and stability on the exposed route is necessary.
Some sections of the dam construction use the difference between salt and fresh water to generate energy. Completing the dam reduced the total coastline of the Netherlands by approximately 300 kilometers.
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