Blue Horizon
A stop off at Lorentzsluizen on the Afsluitdijk in Holland.
The Lorentz locks are named after the physicist Hendrik Lorentz . His precision calculations were the location of the Afsluitdijk in Friesland near Zurich instead of Piaam , in order to limit the danger of the storm.
In the 1924 work plan for the Afsluitdijk the definitive place for the Lorentz locks was established, between the two bends in the Afsluitdijk, on the back of the Kornwerderzand. In total, two groups of sluices were constructed and two lock locks . From a hydrological point of view there was a slight preference for three groups of sluices at the Frisian coast, and two at Den Oever , but in the event of an invasion from the east, the defense wanted to keep the largest capacity in their own hands for as long as possible, and that is why the ratio is the other way around. become. Shipping traffic on the Frisian coast was quite intensive and two locks were built. The depth of the ships was a maximum of three meters and with a depth of four meters, even the largest ships could be shoveled even at very low water levels. The crossings of car traffic on the Afsluitdijk and shipping traffic made movable bridges necessary. In view of defense interests these were turning bridges , because high collection or bascule bridges would have been a clear target for the enemy artillery .
The lock complex had to be ready for use before the Zuiderzee was closed. During the work on the dike, the currents would become so strong due to the shrinking closing holes that safe shipping traffic could not be involved. The construction site for the Lorentz locks was completed in May 1928. The soil conditions at the site were less favorable than at the Stevin locks and wooden piles were driven under the concrete foundation slabs . The foundation was started in June 1928 and on July 15, 1931, the shelters could be used, although the official opening was only made on October 7, 1931. The sluice gates followed in May 1932.
Blue Horizon
A stop off at Lorentzsluizen on the Afsluitdijk in Holland.
The Lorentz locks are named after the physicist Hendrik Lorentz . His precision calculations were the location of the Afsluitdijk in Friesland near Zurich instead of Piaam , in order to limit the danger of the storm.
In the 1924 work plan for the Afsluitdijk the definitive place for the Lorentz locks was established, between the two bends in the Afsluitdijk, on the back of the Kornwerderzand. In total, two groups of sluices were constructed and two lock locks . From a hydrological point of view there was a slight preference for three groups of sluices at the Frisian coast, and two at Den Oever , but in the event of an invasion from the east, the defense wanted to keep the largest capacity in their own hands for as long as possible, and that is why the ratio is the other way around. become. Shipping traffic on the Frisian coast was quite intensive and two locks were built. The depth of the ships was a maximum of three meters and with a depth of four meters, even the largest ships could be shoveled even at very low water levels. The crossings of car traffic on the Afsluitdijk and shipping traffic made movable bridges necessary. In view of defense interests these were turning bridges , because high collection or bascule bridges would have been a clear target for the enemy artillery .
The lock complex had to be ready for use before the Zuiderzee was closed. During the work on the dike, the currents would become so strong due to the shrinking closing holes that safe shipping traffic could not be involved. The construction site for the Lorentz locks was completed in May 1928. The soil conditions at the site were less favorable than at the Stevin locks and wooden piles were driven under the concrete foundation slabs . The foundation was started in June 1928 and on July 15, 1931, the shelters could be used, although the official opening was only made on October 7, 1931. The sluice gates followed in May 1932.