Kinderdijk, The Netherlands |
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Overhead view of Kinderdijk
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WindmillChannels had to be dug to drain the marshy, peat soil to make the land inhabitable.
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WindmillsAt first, the channel network drained the water into rivers and, eventually, into the ocean.
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WindmillsAs the water was drained from the land, the land and channels began to settle.
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WindmillsOver a long period of time, the sinking land and channels became lower than the rivers into which they drained.
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WindmillPumps powered by windmills were developed to pump the water from the channels over dikes into the nearby rivers.
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WindmillsSometimes, a double row of channels, dikes, pumps and windmills were required to raise the water into the rivers.
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WindmillToday, 40% of the land in the Netherlands is below sea level.
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WindmillsThe windmills continued in operation until 1950.
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WindmillsThis site of 19 maintained windmills is a Unesco World Heritage site.
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WindmillsWhile in operation, the position of still vanes was used to communicate pumping instructions and other community news.
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WindmillsThis process isn't completely successful as the land is still subject to flooding at times.
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Modern Screw PumpsModern screw pumps continue the drainage and pumping process today.
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Windmill
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Bird drying on windmill vane
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Classmates
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Classmates
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Classmates
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Classmates
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