Flood Proofing Cities

Netherlands: Solution
Dutch engineers finally completed their country's sophisticated flood defenses in 1997. The result is an $8 billion system of enormous, computer-operated dams and sea surge barriers. The system is admired around the world as an engineering marvel. The floodgates, parts of which are seen here, remain open ordinarily, allowing river water to flow into the sea, but they are quickly lowered during storms. Built to withstand the kind of tremendous flood estimated to occur only once in 10,000 years, the gates have so far done their job successfully.