Haringvliet
| Designations | |
|---|---|
| Designated | 29 August 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1244[1] |
TheHaringvlietis a largeinletof theNorth Sea,in the province ofSouth Hollandin theNetherlands.It is an importantestuaryof theRhine-Meuse delta.[2]
NearNumansdorp,theHollands Diepsplits into the Haringvliet and theVolkerakestuaries.It is closed off nearGoedereedefrom theNorth Seaby theHaringvlietdam,which provides aroadconnection between theislandofVoorneto the north and the island ofGoeree-Overflakkeeto the south.[3]The dam with its sluices was built as part of theDelta Workssea barrier protection works.[4]
The Haringvliet estuary contains the island ofTiengemeten,which is separated from theriver islandofHoeksche Waardby theVuile Gatstrait.
History
[edit]
The Haringvliet was formed as a result of the extensive flooding event of 1216, which breached the dunes ofVoorneand created a deep saltwater inlet. During a second flooding event, theSt. Elizabeth floodsof 1421, this inlet connected to theMerwedeand became an important estuary of theRhineandMeuserivers.
It used to be ecologically rich, and its brackish waters, fed by both rivers and sea, supported a healthy population ofseals.It also provided an access point for migrating fish likesalmonandsturgeon.As a result of theNorth Sea flood of 1953the Haringvliet was closed off by the Haringvlietdam. The Haringvliet lost its estuarine characteristics and became a freshwater lake.[5]Because of that, the seals are gone and migrating fish can only enter theRhine-Meuse Deltathrough the busy and heavy industrialisedNieuwe Waterweg.
There are plans to permanently open a few of the Haringvliet sluices, to partly restore the ecosystem.[6]
References
[edit]- ^"Haringvliet".RamsarSites Information Service.Retrieved25 April2018.
- ^"Haringvliet"(in Dutch).Rijkswaterstaat.Archived fromthe originalon 2014-10-26.
- ^"N57 (Highway)"(in Dutch).Rijkswaterstaat.Archived fromthe originalon 2014-10-26.
- ^"Haringvlietsluizen"(in Dutch).Rijkswaterstaat.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Haringvliet Expo".Deltawerken Online(in Dutch). Archived fromthe originalon 2016-10-31.Retrieved2014-10-26.
- ^"Haringvlietsluizen op een kier"(in Dutch).Rijkswaterstaat.