hvide sande

Frank Sørensen, on April 15, 2007, said:

The Lock and Sluice Standing at the harbour in Hvide Sande it is impossible not to crash sight of the large dam with lock and sluice. The sluice is well hidden under the road leading across the channel, but the lock is highly visible thanks to the bascule bridge and the large blue harbour administration tower, Blåtårn. The dam with lock and sluice was built in 1928-31 and provided the basis for the development of the harbour and Hvide Sande township.

Before the dam was built, the fjord had a natural outlet into the North Sea. About 300 years ago, the outlet was a short distance south of Hvide Sande. Due to sand erosion, the opening moved southwards, assuming a shape which prevented effective drainage from the fjord. Water levels in the fjord thus rose alarmingly, leading to the destruction of large areas around the fjord and along the river Skjern Å. The purpose of the sluice was thus to control water levels and salt content in the fjord.

In 1987 it was decided to undertake trials to improve the water quality in the fjord by exchanging a larger volume of water and hence raising its salt level. Consequently, the sluice is now kept more open than before.

To assess the results of this project, it must be maintained over a number of years, as plants and animals living in the fjord must be given several years to adapt to the changed conditions.

The purpose of the lock is to provide passage for ships between the Sea and the Fjord. This includes both fishing boats and small freighters. The lock was originally 8.5 m wide. In 1987 it was extended to 16.5 m. This was to accommodate the needs of the North Sea Shipyard in Ringkøbing to build bigger ocean-going coasters. The biggest coasters currently passing through the lock have a width of 16 m and a length of approx. 100 m.

Each year, about 2,500 vessels pass through the lock, and it is a sight worth seeing when the bridge is raised and the ships pass through.

look at http://www.hvidesande.dk for more infomation