Haringvlietdam, Dam and lock complex in South Holland, Netherlands.
The Haringvlietdam is a combined dam and lock structure in South Holland that stretches across the estuary and separates the North Sea from the inland waterways. The construction includes a road crossing the top and a series of moveable gates arranged in parallel to control water levels.
The structure was built between 1957 and 1971 as part of the Delta Works program created after the 1953 floods to protect against storm surge. It was the sixth major project of this protection system that reshaped South Holland's landscape.
The dam shows how the Dutch have mastered the challenge of living with water through large-scale engineering projects visible in the landscape. Walking across it, you witness a place where managing water flows became a source of national pride and skill.
The road over the structure connects two islands and gives visitors views of the water and surrounding landscape as you cross. Driving slowly or stopping allows you to observe the scale and see the water flowing through the gates.
Hidden within the structure are fish passages built into the piers that allow migrating fish to swim between the sea and inland waters even when the main gates are closed. This overlooked feature shows how engineering and nature coexist in the design.
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