As part of an early morning, our Plus3 group departed for Deltapark in Neeltje Jans on the tenth day of the Netherlands trip. Surprisingly, this park hosted a variety of attractions, from aquariums to water parks. While the weather made the water slides too chilly for me to ride on, I enjoyed diving into other activities the park had in store. For our group’s guided tour, we observed the storm surge barriers that lay off the edge of the Netherlands’ waters. These storm surge barriers use a constantly moving barrier to protect the waters during high tides at night and heavy storms. Traditional water barriers disrupt the flow of sea life and slowly turn the water from sea into freshwater, killing off the biodiverse ecosystem. Simulating ocean currents and tides through these moving storm surge barriers, the environment and human structures remain safe. Incorporating environmentally conscientious water systems can ensure the prosperity of fishing industries and aquaculture across the globe.

The park also carried a myriad of tidbits on flood management history. During a boat ride at the Deltapark, I observed several wind turbines littering the waters. In addition, the interactive exhibits provided information on the effects of the Netherlands flood of 1953. Our Plus3 group learned extensively about the devastation brought by the Great Flood of ’53 at the Watersnoodmuseum and the 1836 people who died from the event. The turbulent seas provide a great source of renewable energy, but these winds also carry the potential to inflict great havoc upon the land beyond the dykes.

To ensure the barriers hold, blankets of industrial fibers get laid across the ocean floor to allow pipes to go atop. These rolled-out blankets provide a more stable ground that can resist the turbulent waters that come with storms. Extreme hurricanes often result from rising temperatures across the ocean’s surface due to man-made, additional global warming. Though the root causes of rising ocean waters can take a while to fix, engineering designs that protect people allow us to have the time to save our future. Furthering engineering solutions focused on sustainability ensures clear skies ahead.