How to make a polder

1. Low lying land is

selected for reclamation

SEA

LOW LYING LAND

2. A Dam is built. This

DAM will eventually protect
the polder from the sea.

The Barrier Dam in

Holland is 90m wide on
top and carries a
motorway.

3. The sea water is

pumped out of the area
being reclaimed using
pumps.

Water pumped out The dam has PUMP

HOUSES which
regularly remove water
from the polder.
 4. Salt loving plants
like MARRAM GRASS
Salt Loving Plants are planted. These help
absorb salt from the
soil.
It takes 5 YEARS
before a polder is ready
for use.

CANAL

5. When the polder is ready for use the land is ploughed and leveled.
Land uses are then allocated. These include farming, housing and
forestry.
Canals are built to help drain water from the land.