Mobile Defense Structures

Delta Works

•Consists of three barriers connecting the mainland to two artificial islands (Neeltje-Jans) in the Eastern Sheldt •Shortened the coastline and reduced the length of the dikes•9 kilometers long•Largest part of the Delta works•Took over 10 years of construction

Maeslantkering (Maeslant Barrier)

•Part of Delta Works•One of the largest moving structures on Earth•Can close off the Nieuwe Waterweg (New Waterway) when water levels are threatening the dikes•Protects the Rotterdam area from storm surge•The two steel gates are 22 meters high and 210 meters long• Trusses are 237 meters long• Each arm is as high as the Paris Eiffel Tower but weighs over twice as much•Ball shaped joints are 10 meters in diameter and weigh 680 tons

Demountable Flood Defense System

•Visited Demflood system in Bewdley• Consists of lightweight extruded aluminum posts and dam beams, stainless steel anchor plates, synthetic water seals•Modular elements•Fast installation•No limit on system length•Maximum defense height of 5 meters•Post-to-post is 2.5 to 3.5 meters

Thames Barrier

• One of the world’s largest movable flood barriers•Spans 520 meters across the River Thames near Woolwich (located downstream of central London)•Protects 125 square kilometers of central London•10 steel gates•When raised, the main gates stand as high as a five-story building and as wide as the opening of Tower Bridge•Each main gate weighs 3,300 tons•Needs to be closed only during high tide

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