Volkerak

Volkerak highlighted in cyan.

The Volkerak is a body of water in the Netherlands. It is part of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta, and is situated between the island Goeree-Overflakkee to the north-west and the Dutch mainland to the south and east. The western part of the Volkerak is also called Krammer.

Tributaries of the Volkerak are the Dintel and Steenbergse Vliet. The Volkerak is navigable by sea-going ships through the Volkerak Locks (Volkeraksluizen) from the Hollands Diep. The Scheldt–Rhine Canal connects it to the port of Antwerp.

Before 1987, it was a tidal river open to the North Sea, but it was closed off as part of the Delta Works, it is now a fresh water lake.

Future

Due to the low supply of fresh water to the now-enclosed Volkerak, and runoff of agricultural nutrients, the lake suffers from algal bloom throughout the summer,^[1] and swimming is prohibited. The decision to transform it again into a salt water lake could be taken between 2015 and 2020.

Volkerak Locks

View of Volkerak

References

↑ Verspagen JM, Passarge J, Jöhnk KD, Visser PM, Peperzak L, Boers P, Laanbroek HJ, Huisman J (2006). "Water management strategies against toxic Microcystis blooms in the Dutch delta". Ecological Applications. 16 (1): 313–27. doi:10.1890/04-1953. PMID 16705982.

External links

Information by Rijkswaterstaat

Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta

Rhine Rijn Rhin	Current distributaries Waal Nederrijn IJssel Lek Merwede Boven Merwede Nieuwe Merwede Beneden Merwede Oude Maas Dordtsche Kil Noord Nieuwe Maas Het Scheur Nieuwe Waterweg Former distributaries Kromme Rijn Leidse Rijn Oude Rijn Hollandse IJssel Vecht Waaltje Brielse Maas Spui Current estuaries Nieuwe Waterweg IJsselmeer Former estuaries Hollands Diep Haringvliet Volkerak Krammer Grevelingen Keeten-Mastgat Oosterschelde Associated canals Bijlands Kanaal Pannerdens Kanaal Amsterdam–Rhine Canal Vaartse Rijn Nieuwe Merwede Nieuwe Waterweg Scheldt–Rhine Canal Maas–Waal Canal

Meuse Maas	Current distributaries Bergse Maas Amer Former distributaries Oude Maasje Afgedamde Maas Merwede Boven Merwede Beneden Merwede Oude Maas Dordtsche Kil Noord Nieuwe Maas Het Scheur Nieuwe Waterweg Current estuaries Former estuaries Hollands Diep Haringvliet Volkerak Krammer Grevelingen Keeten-Mastgat Oosterschelde Associated canals Heusden Canal Bergse Maas Maas–Waal Canal

Scheldt Schelde Escaut	Current distributaries Western Scheldt Former distributaries Oosterschelde Eendracht Current estuaries Western Scheldt Former estuaries Oosterschelde Krammer Grevelingen Associated canals Scheldt–Rhine Canal Canal through Walcheren

Other rivers (directly draining into the delta)	Linge Mark Donge Rotte Oude IJssel

Islands and Peninsulas	Rozenburg IJsselmonde Het Eiland van Dordt Voorne and Putten Hoeksche Waard Tiengemeten Goeree-Overflakkee Schouwen-Duiveland Tholen Sint Philipsland Walcheren Noord-Beveland Zuid-Beveland

Towns	Rotterdam Antwerp Dordrecht Bergen-op-Zoom Schiedam Vlissingen Vlaardingen Middelburg Spijkenisse

Other topics	Delta Works Verdronken Land van Reimerswaal Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe St. Elizabeth's flood (1421) St. Felix's Flood All Saints' Flood (1570)

Coordinates: 51°39′N 4°18′E / 51.65°N 4.3°E / 51.65; 4.3

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