Southern Netherlands: Zeeland from space

The Netherlands: Along the southern coast of the Netherlands, sediment-laden rivers have created a massive delta of islands and waterways in the gaps between the coastal dunes.

In this false-colour composite, acquired on May 24, 2002, the darker the red shown, the more densely vegetated the terrain.

The light blue-green areas show bare land surface.

If you look closely you will see the series of dams and barriers erected to prevent catastrophic flooding in Zeeland.

This was started after 1953 when several thousand people were drowned when the sea surged to higher than normal levels. Because most of Netherlands lies 5 metres under sea level, a breach in the sea walls can have a devastating effect.