Polder Landscapes of the World

Polders can be found in coastal and alluvial lowlands all over the world. Water levels are artificially controlled so people can live and work in these reclaimed areas. This often centuries-old interaction between man and water had produced a rich variety of polder landscapes with their own cultural identity and spatial, functional, and ecological characteristics. These landscapes are under threat due to climate and economic change along with the standardization tendencies of globalization. This book addresses polder landscapes as cultural expressions rather than simply as results of water engineering - while providing background, overview maps, and descriptions of iconic polders as a means te understand the similarities and differences of these particular landscapes. The book aims to raise awareness on these flood-prone lowland landscapes, their cultural identity, and their problematic situation of intensive cultivation and habitation, while providing clues for future development.