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| Grevelingen Grevelingenmeer | |
|---|---|
 View of the Grevelingenmeer | |
  Grevelingen Grevelingenmeer | |
| Coordinates | 51°42′51″N4°01′20″E / 51.71417°N 4.02222°E /51.71417; 4.02222 |
| Basin countries | Netherlands |
| Designated | 29 August 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1272[1] |
TheGrevelingen orGrevelingenmeer (Lake Grevelingen) is a closed off part of theRhine-Meuseestuary on theborder of theDutchprovinces ofSouth Holland andZeeland.
It is situated between the islands ofGoeree-Overflakkee (South Holland) andSchouwen-Duiveland (Zeeland) and was closed off as part of theDelta Works, a huge engineering project designed to protect the southwestern part of the Netherlands from flooding. TheBrouwersdam, adike connecting the two islands on the west, closes off the Grevelingen from theNorth Sea. TheGrevelingendam, the dike on the east, blocks the inflow of the Rhine and Meuse water.
Since its closure in 1971, the saltwater of the Grevelingen slowly started to become brackish due to rainwater and excesspolderwater from the islands, but the Dutch changed their mind and decided that they wanted to preserve the salinebiotope. Therefore, in 1978 asluice was created under the Brouwersdam, partially restoring and maintaining the saline character of the Grevelingen.
Nevertheless, the water body life remains affected by the changes in water salinity, in the transport of sediments, and by a deficit in oxygen in deep water, caused by the levee since 1971.Benthic life (mussels,oysters and many fixed organisms) is rich in the shallow waters in thephotic zone, but the deep sediments are less conducive to marine life, and fishes in open water are rarely observed during diving.
The Brouwerssluis is open all year round except during storm floods. Brouwerssluis is the home of aseal colony subsisting on fish transported by theseawater stream entering the water body during hightide.
Connexxion bus service 104 crosses the Brouwersdam, bus service 133 (and others) the Grevelingendam.
The Grevelingenmeer is the largest saltwater water body in Europe and a popular place for holidays and water sports (sailing,surfing,diving).
Professional freestyle windsurferSteven Van Broeckhoven refers to the Grevelingenmeer as his homespot.
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