Polders on the North Sea

The map above shows the year that the seven polders were created on the Island of Nordstrand. Several polders are also found along the North Sea coast and eventually they give way to the glacial uplands where the horses and cows are shown. Identify the land uses that are indicated by the three arrows. What is circled?

Answers: 1) cultivated fields (such as rape seed, barley, wheat) 2) main or winter dike (the largest and highest of the dikes) 3) summer dike (the smallest and lowest of the dikes over which winter storm water can flow without destroying the dike). As more land is reclaimed, these dikes are enlarged and made into winter dikes. 4) A lock in the dike allows water to be retained in the small fishing harbor at low tide (so the boats won't tip over!) Optional: a side trip to the coastal areas of the Netherlands.

Created by Ingolf Vogeler 1 February 1996; last revised on 09 September 2005.