History

The bizarre plan to drain the Mediterranean: Atlantropa

A trip to the archives for some educative entertainment from Tom Scott:

Herman Sörgel wanted to create the largest civil engineering project the world has ever seen: a colossal dam across the Strait of Gibraltar, lowering the Mediterranean sea. There were, of course, a few problems with this.

One response to “The bizarre plan to drain the Mediterranean: Atlantropa”

  1. I don’t know Tom.. surely acres of newly created wetland would be brilliant for wildlife habitat, migratory birds..? and there are a great many plants species that are salt tolerant. Also, if we are challenged about sea level rise and it’s effect on places such as Venice, then maybe, instead of completely draining the med, the dam, or barrage, could be a means of controlling the sea level protecting the whole of the surrounding coast..

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