Benefits of the Zuyder Zee project in Netherlands
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The Zuyder Zee Project/Ijssel Meer Reclamation Scheme. The project as started in 1927 to reclaim the southern sea (Zuyder Zee). Initial reclamation started by building the main ring dyke (32 km long and 7 metres above sea level) known as the Great Dyke joining the Netherlands through the Wieringen Island to the Friesland coast . The construction took 5 years (1927- 1932). The water enclosed by the dyke was drained away to form Lake Yssel. The lake is currently a freshwater lake because it is connected to river Rhine. The whole project comprises five polders totaling 220,000 ha of arable land. Crops produced in the polders include barley, wheat, rye, potatoes, beet root, oats, vegetables and fruits. Benefits of Zuyder Zee project a) Creation of large freshwater lake in the middle of the country e.g. Lake Yssel which provide fresh water to the province of North Holland and Friesland for irrigation/domestic/industrial purposes. b) Reclaimed polders have attracted towns that have imp...