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The Ganzepoot (Dutch for ''goose foot'') is a series of
lock Lock(s) may refer to: Common meanings *Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance *Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal Arts and entertainment * ''Lock ...
s and
spillway A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of water downstream from a dam or levee, typically into the riverbed of the dammed river itself. In the United Kingdom, they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways ensure tha ...
s in the inner port of
Nieuwpoort, Belgium Nieuwpoort ( , ; vls, Nieuwpôort; french: Nieuport ) is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Nieuwpoort proper and ...
which connect one river, three water channels and two canals with the mouth of the
Yser The Yser ( , ; nl, IJzer ) is a river that rises in French Flanders (the north of France), enters the Belgian province of West Flanders and flows through the '' Ganzepoot'' and into the North Sea at the town of Nieuwpoort. The source of the Ys ...
River and the maritime port. The spillways control the level of the two channels and the drainage of the
polders A polder () is a low-lying tract of land that forms an artificial hydrological entity, enclosed by embankments known as dikes. The three types of polder are: # Land reclaimed from a body of water, such as a lake or the seabed # Flood plains s ...
. The Ganzepoot was built in the second half of 19th century but was almost completely destroyed in
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. The name comes from the fact that infrastructure collectively resembles a six-toed goose foot. From left to right (north to south) are: * The ''Nieuwbedelf spillway'' (also known as the ''Grote Westwatering spillway'') - a polder overflow drainage ditch between the and the coast * The ''Gravensas'' lock that connects the ''Nieuwpoort-Plassendale Canal'', the Yser and the Canal de Furnes. * The ''Springsas:'' - Originally this was the of the old Nieuwdamme Creek, the former bed of the Yser before its recanalization. The creek became unnavigable in the 17th century due to the absence of a lock. The pre-1914 reconstruction preserves some markedly different methods than current views. * The obsolete lock ''Iepersas'' between the recanalized Yser and its mouth; no longer used for shipping, with a spillway on the left with five openings. * The ''Veurne-Ambacht'' or ''Noordvaart'' drainage sluice. This is the famous spillway where Hendrik Geeraert and
Fernand Ume Fernand is a masculine given name of French origin. The feminine form is Fernande. Fernand may refer to: People Given name * Fernand Augereau (1882–1958), French cyclist * Fernand Auwera (1929–2015), Belgian writer * Fernand Baldet (1885– ...
opened the gates on October 29, 1914, flooding the lands between the Yser and the old Nieuwpoort-
Diksmuide (; french: Dixmude, ; vls, Diksmude) is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of proper and the former communes of Beerst, Esen, Kaaskerke, Keiem, Lampernisse, Leke, N ...
railroad, and stopping the advance of German troops in
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. At that time, the sliding gates were opened manually by hand-crank; nowadays the operation is motorized. * The ''Veurnesas'' a drainage sluice at the beginning of the Nieuwpoort-Dunkirk Canal. It has a spillway on the right with eight openings. Provides access to the ''Veurnevaart'' (or, Canal de Furnes, the portion of the canal running in French territory after crossing the border at
Veurne Veurne (; french: Furnes, italic=no, ) is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Veurne proper and the settlements of , , , , , Houtem, , , Wulveringem, and . History Origins up ...
(fr. ''Furnes'') ).


See also

*
Nieuport Memorial The British Nieuport Memorial is a First World War memorial, located in the Belgian port city of Nieuwpoort (french: link=no, Nieuport), which is at the mouth of the River Yser. The memorial lists 547 names of British officers and men with no k ...
*
King Albert I Memorial The King Albert I Memorial, also named the King Albert I Monument ( nl, Koning Albert I-monument; french: Monument au Roi Albert Ier) is a memorial at the Belgian coastal city of Nieuwpoort. It is located right outside the old town, on the righ ...


References


External links


Ganzepoot WebsiteNieuwpoort tourist info
{{coord missing, Belgium Canals in Belgium Nieuwpoort, Belgium