VOICED: Holland uses giant 'Sand Motor' to bolster coastline

The Sand Motor is an innovative project in the Netherlands designed to combat sea encroachment by using a large artificial sandbar. Located near The Hague, it aims to reinforce the coastline and prevent flooding. The project leverages natural forces like wind and waves to gradually disperse sand along the coast, enhancing the southern Dutch shoreline over 15 to 20 years. Initiated by Dutch experts, the Sand Motor is a pioneering effort in hydro engineering. If successful, it could be replicated across the Netherlands and has already attracted international interest.

What is the primary purpose of the Sand Motor project in the Netherlands?

• To attract tourists to the area

• To reinforce the coastline and prevent flooding

• To create new land for agriculture

• To generate electricity from tidal waves

How high is the artificial peninsula created by the Sand Motor project?

• 7 meters

• 12 meters

• 10 meters

• 5 meters

What natural forces are expected to help disperse the sand from the Sand Motor?

• Rain and snow

• Wind, waves, and currents

• Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions

• Human intervention and machinery

Over what time period is the sand expected to naturally spread along the coast?

• 5 to 10 years

• 15 to 20 years

• 10 to 15 years

• 20 to 25 years

What is the Dutch government's plan if the Sand Motor project is successful?

• To convert the area into a tourist attraction

• To build a similar project in other countries

• To abandon the project

• To replicate the project around the country