Seeing the London's flood barrier system on the Thames river

Flooding has been a problem in London for centuries. The threat continues to increase over time due to rising sea levels that despite the slow but persistent.

The Thames Flood Barrier location. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1j3pTtH)

In 1928, the Thames river flooding and claimed 14 lives. In 1953 the Thames flood caused 307 people died. The Thames river is located in the City Center requires serious treatment so that the city of London is protected from flooding.

The Thames Flood Barrier. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1JNqmhh)

The Thames Flood Barrier is located downstream of central London, on the Thames river in the eastern side of the capital in Woolwich. This barrier is the second largest flood barrier in the world after the Oosterscheldekering barrier in the Netherlands. This barrier was built in 1982 to prevent flooding in London by high tides and storms of the North Sea.

Parts of the Thames Flood Barrier. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1j3pTtH)

Thames Flood Barrier scale. (Picture from: http://bbc.in/1E3whrm)

The Thames Barrier construction began in 1974 and officially opened in the next decade. The barrier was originally designed to last until 2030, but the latest analysis shows that the barrier will be sufficient protection until 2060-2070.

Way of working of the Thames Flood Barrier. (Picture from: http://bbc.in/1E3whrm)

This barrier consists of nine steel gates with a length of 520 m along the river. When open, these gates allow water to flow freely in the Thames river and impassable by boat.

When closed, the door is rotated upward until they block the flow of the river. The gate is hollow and made of 1.6-inch-thick steel with a range of 61 meters and each has a weighs of 3,200 tons. Gate occupied by water when submerged and emerged on the surface of the river when it is empty. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE GUARDIAN | BBC]

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