Eidersperrwerk

The Eider barrage is one of the largest coastal protection structures in Germany. The huge structure protects the region from storm surges and also regulates the water level of the Eider. The combination of modern engineering and the vast North Sea backdrop is particularly impressive. Before the barrage was built, there were regular heavy storm surges along the Eider, which pushed seawater far inland. Today, the barrage prevents storm surges from entering the Eider in an uncontrolled manner, thereby protecting dykes, settlements, agricultural areas and traffic routes. At the same time, it regulates the water level of the river and improves the drainage of the low-lying marshlands. The structure was also built as a consequence of the devastating Hamburg storm surge of 1962, after which coastal protection in northern Germany was massively expanded.