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Everything you need to know about Rivers and Hard Engineering Options!
Just as with a coastline, rivers are prone to flooding in bad weather conditions. Rivers flood when rainfall is too heavy for the river's capacity to be able to withstand. The water level can either simply rise above the height of the river bank, or can create large amounts of pressure on the banks causing them to collapse or give way, flooding the surrounding area, called a flood plain.
There are two groups of methods for controlling floods around a river - hard and soft engineering options. Hard options often see man-made, constructed/manufactured pieces of equipment used to stop or lessen the damage caused by flooding. Soft options often see the use of strategy involving the natural scenery around a river.
Examples of Hard Engineering Options for flood management along a river:
Government bodies usually prefer hard engineering options because they can generate income and profits. Environmentalist groups usually prefer the option of soft engineering because it promotes less damage to environments and less disruption of settlements.
Any flood management engineering option must be economically, environmentally and socially sustainable, as this will make sure that future generations are not impacted by the decisions made to stop flooding today.
Make sure to listen to our music video on Hard Engineering Options for River Flood Management, remember the lyrics, and then try your hand at our test!
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