Why isn’t the Netherlands underwater? - Stefan Al

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Helen Chang

In January of 1953, a tidal surge shook the North Sea.

1953 年一月，

猛漲的潮水震撼了北海。

The titanic waves flooded the Dutch coastline,

巨浪淹沒了荷蘭的海岸線，

killing almost 2,000 people.

造成近兩千人死亡。

54 years later, a similar storm threatened the region.

五十四年後，一場類似的 風暴再次威脅該區域。

But this time, the Netherlands were ready.

但這一次，荷蘭準備好了。

As the water swelled,

隨著水面上漲，

state-of-the-art computer sensors activated emergency protocols.

最先進的電腦感測器 啟動了緊急程序。

Over the next 30 minutes,

在接下來的三十分鐘，

a pair of 240-meter steel arms swung shut,

一對兩百四十公尺的 鋼臂閉合起來，

protecting the channel ahead.

保護前面的水道。

Using 680-tonne ball joints,

這個屏障使用 六百八十公噸的球型接合點，

the barrier moved in rhythm with the shifting wind and waves.

得以隨著風與浪 不斷改變的節奏律動。

By morning, the storm had passed with minimal flooding.

到早上，風暴過去了， 淹水災情被降到最低。

The first field activation of the Maeslantkering

馬仕朗防風暴大壩第一次實際啟動

had been a resounding success.

就是個轟動的大成功。

As one of the planet’s largest mobile structures,

這個風暴猛浪屏障是地球上 最大型的可移動建築之一，

this storm surge barrier is a marvel of human engineering.

也是人類工程的奇蹟。

But the Maeslantkering is just one part of a massive,

但，馬仕朗防風暴大壩只是 巨大的連鎖水利控制系統

interlocking system of water controls known as the Delta Works—

「三角洲工程」的一部分而已——

the most sophisticated flood prevention project in the world.

這個工程是世界上 最精密的洪水預防計畫。

The Netherlands has a long history with water management.

荷蘭的水管理歷史相當長。

The country lies along the delta of three major European rivers,

該國位在三條歐洲 主要河流之間的三角洲上，

and nearly a quarter of its territory is below sea level.

其國土有近四分之一低於海平面。

This geography makes the region extremely prone to flooding.

這種地理條件讓該區域 很容易受到洪水侵襲。

So much so, that some of the earliest Dutch governing bodies

也因此，某些最早期的荷蘭管理單位

were informal “water boards” that coordinated flood protection projects.

成為非正式「水管理委員會」， 負責協調洪水保護計畫。

But after the storms of 1953, the Dutch government took more official measures.

但在 1953 年的風暴之後，

荷蘭政府採用了更正式的措施。

They established the Delta Commission,

他們成立了「三角洲委員會」，

and tasked them with protecting the entire southwestern region.

將保護整個西南區的 任務交給該委員會。

Focusing on densely populated cities,

他們聚焦於人口密度高的城市，

their aim was to reduce the annual odds of flooding below 1 in 10,000—

目標是要把每年洪水發生的機率 降到萬分之一以下——

about 100 times as safe as the average coastal city.

比一般的沿岸城市 更安全約一百倍。

Accomplishing this lofty goal required various infrastructure projects

若要達成這個崇高的目標，

就需要沿著西南海岸建造 各種基礎設施的計畫。

along the southwestern coast.

The first line of defense was to dam the region’s flood-prone estuaries.

防禦的第一線是要在 容易受洪水侵襲的河口築壩。

These large inlets fed many of the country’s rivers into the North Sea,

該國許多河流要透過 這些大型灣口進入北海，

and during storms they allowed flood water to surge inland.

在風暴期間，這些灣口 會讓洪水湧入內陸。

Using a series of dams, the Delta Commission transformed these estuaries

三角洲委員會用一系列水壩 將這些河口轉變成

into expansive lakes that serve as nature preserves and community parks.

遼闊的湖泊，能做為 天然保護區和社區公園。

However, this solution wouldn’t work for the Nieuwe Waterweg.

然而，這個解決方案 對「新運河」行不通。

As the lifeblood of the local shipping industry,

這條水道是當地運輸業的命脈，

this passage had to be kept open in safe conditions,

在安全的時候， 它必須要保持暢通，

and barricaded during storm surges.

在風暴浪濤來襲時則要阻擋起來。

In 1998, the completed Maeslantkering

1998 年，完工的馬仕朗防風暴大壩

provided the flexible protection necessary.

提供了必要的彈性保護。

Alongside additional barriers, like grassy dikes and concrete seawalls,

三角洲工程的主要部分包含 這些防禦工事再加上額外的屏障，

these fortifications made up the bulk of the Delta Works project,

比如長滿草的堤防 以及混凝土的防波堤，

which was primarily focused on holding back ocean storms.

該工程的主要焦點 是在阻擋海洋風暴。

But in the following decades, the Dutch pursued additional plans

但在接下來的數十年， 荷蘭繼續進行額外的計畫，

to complement the Delta Works and protect against floods further inland.

來補足三角洲工程，保護 更內陸的地方不受洪水侵襲。

Under the "Room for the River" plan,

在「還地於河」計畫之下，

farms and dikes were relocated away from the shore.

農場和堤防都被 重新安置，遠離海岸。

This left more space for water to collect in low-lying floodplains,

這樣就會多出許多空間讓水 聚積在低窪的泛濫平原上，

creating reservoirs and habitats for local wildlife.

為當地的野生動物 創造貯水池以及棲息地。

This strategic retreat not only decreased flood risk,

這項策略性的撤退， 不僅降低了洪水的風險，

but allowed for the redeveloped settlements

還讓重新開發的新拓居地

to be built more densely and sustainably.

能用更密集、永續的方式來建造。

Perhaps no city embodies the Netherlands' multi-pronged approach to water management

鹿特丹是個幾乎全在 海平面底下的繁榮城市，

as much as Rotterdam, a thriving city almost entirely below sea level.

它採用多管齊下的方法來管理水， 可能是世界之最。

When a storm threatens,

當風暴威脅來臨時，

densely populated older districts are protected by traditional dikes.

傳統堤防可以保護 人口密度較高的較老舊區域。

Meanwhile, newer districts have been artificially elevated,

而較新的區域已經被人工增高，

often sporting green roofs that store rainwater.

通常還有可以儲存 雨水的綠化屋頂。

Numerous structures around the city transform into water storage facilities,

城市各地的許多建築物 被轉變成水儲存設施，

including parking garages and plazas

包括停車車庫和廣場，

which normally serve as theaters and sports arenas.

平時是用來當戲院和運動場。

Meanwhile in the harbor, floating pavilions rise with the water level.

在港灣，漂浮亭會隨著水面升起。

These are the first of several planned amphibious structures,

在荷蘭規劃的許多水陸兩用 建築中這些亭子是最早期的，

some of which house water purification systems and solar collectors.

有些亭子中有儲藏著 淨水系統和太陽能收集裝置。

These strategies are just some of the technologies and policies

這些策略只是能讓荷蘭 走在水管理尖端的

that have put the Netherlands at the cutting edge of water management.

部分技術和政策而已。

The country continues to find new ways to make cities more resilient

荷蘭不斷找到新方式讓城市

能更快從天然災害中恢復。

to natural disasters.

And as the rising sea levels caused by climate change

當氣候變遷造成的海平面上升

threaten low-lying cities across the world,

威脅到全世界地窪地區的城市時，

the Netherlands offers an exceptional example of how to go with the flow.

荷蘭提供了如何順水推舟的範例。