Holding Back Water: The Delta Project Wasser zurückhalten: Das Delta-Projekt Retener el agua: El Proyecto Delta 水をせき止めるデルタ・プロジェクト Retenção de água: O Projeto Delta Удерживая воду: Проект "Дельта Suyu Geri Tutmak: Delta Projesi Стримуючи воду: Проект "Дельта 阻止水流：三角洲计划 挡住水源三角洲项目

Voice 1

Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Liz Waid.

Voice 2

And I’m Colin Lowther. そして、私はコリン・ロウサーです。 Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand - no matter where in the world they live. 世界のどこに住んでいても、人々は理解しやすいです。

Voice 1

In 1953, a flood destroyed Zeeland, a small Dutch state in the Netherlands. 1953年、オランダの小国ゼーランドが洪水で壊滅した。 During the flood, the system protecting Zeeland failed. 洪水の間、ゼーランドを保護するシステムは失敗しました。 The system included dams and dykes. システムにはダムと堤防が含まれていました。 They were supposed to hold back and guide the water. Měli se držet zpátky a vodit vodu. But after the system failed, the water flooded into Zeeland. The flood killed almost 2000 people. Povodeň zabila téměř 2000 lidí. In response, Dutch engineers developed a new flood control system: the Dutch Delta Project. V reakci na to holandskí inženýři vyvinuli nový protipovodňový systém: holandský projekt Delta. Today’s Spotlight is on this system.

Voice 2

After the flood, Dutch officials travelled to Louisiana in the United States. Louisiana is a state similar to Zeeland. Much of the state borders water. Velká část státu hraničí s vodou. And in both Louisiana and Zeeland there are places where the land is below sea-level. A jak v Louisianě, tak na Zeelandu jsou místa, kde je země pod hladinou moře. So it is important for each place to have a system that holds back the water. Je tedy důležité, aby každé místo mělo systém, který vodu zadržuje.

Voice 1

In 1953, Louisiana had one of the best flood protection systems. The Dutch officials wanted to see this flood protection system. They hoped to learn from it. Doufali, že se z toho poučí. They understood that a better system could have saved many lives in Zeeland. Pochopili, že lepší systém mohl na Zélandu zachránit mnoho životů.

Voice 2

When the officials returned home, they promised to build a new system. This was the beginning of the Dutch Delta Project. Engineers with the Delta Project worked together. They created quality systems to protect the Netherlands against floods. Because of the Delta Project, the Dutch now have one of the most famous protective flood systems in the world. Díky projektu Delta mají nyní Nizozemci jeden z nejznámějších ochranných protipovodňových systémů na světě.

Voice 1

But, history has a way of changing things. Ale historie má způsob, jak věci změnit. Now the Dutch are helping Louisiana. In September 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the coast of Louisiana. This large storm started in the ocean. Tato velká bouře začala v oceánu. High winds damaged many homes. In particular, people in the famous American city of New Orleans suffered greatly. Zejména lidé ve slavném americkém městě New Orleans velmi trpěli.

Voice 2

Flood water broke through Louisiana’s protective system. The flood destroyed the walls and dams that were supposed to hold the water back. The water washed away homes and businesses. Voda smetla domy i firmy. It shut off the electricity. Vypnulo to elektřinu. It also destroyed fresh water supplies. Zničila také zásoby sladké vody. The people had no fresh water to drink. Many people had no safe place to stay. Mnoho lidí nemělo žádné bezpečné místo k pobytu. Some were even trapped on the tops of their homes. Někteří byli dokonce uvězněni na střechách svých domů. The water had risen around them. Voda kolem nich stoupla. They had to be rescued by helicopter. Zachraňovat je musel vrtulník.

Voice 1

After Hurricane Katrina the people of Louisiana did not know what to do. Po hurikánu Katrina lidé z Louisiany nevěděli, co dělat. They did not know how protect themselves from another flood. Nevěděli, jak se chránit před další povodní. So, officials from Louisiana visited the Dutch in the Netherlands. They wanted to see the famous Dutch Delta Project system. The Louisiana officials hope that they can copy the Dutch system to help protect their state.

Voice 2

So what makes the Dutch system so special? Dutch engineers built the system to be a storm-surge barrier. Nizozemští inženýři postavili systém jako bariéru proti bouřkovým vlnám. That is, the system protects their cities from the wind and rising water of a strong storm. During a severe storm, waters surge – they rise and move forward. Během silné bouře se vody vzedmou – stoupají a postupují vpřed. This is what caused the flooding in Louisiana. To způsobilo záplavy v Louisianě. The system protects against these surges. Systém proti těmto přepětím chrání. It took 30 years to build such a system. Vybudování takového systému trvalo 30 let.

Voice 1

The Dutch system was a strong and intelligent design. Dutch engineers had prepared their cities for the future! Holandští inženýři připravili svá města na budoucnost! Scientists expect water levels to rise in the 21st century. Vědci očekávají, že hladina vody v 21. století stoupne. This is because of climate change. And the Dutch system, built in the 20th century, will protect their cities when the water rises. A holandský systém, vybudovaný ve 20. století, ochrání jejich města, když voda stoupne.

Voice 2

So, what does the Dutch system look like? Jak tedy nizozemský systém vypadá? And, how does it work? Well, the largest part of the system is the Oosterschelde barrier. No, největší část systému je bariéra Oosterschelde. The other parts of the system are similar, but smaller. The Oosterschelde barrier has 65 concrete piers. The piers help the barrier to stay in place. They connect to land. Připojují se k zemi. And strong concrete supports them. A silný beton je podporuje. Each pier can weigh up to 18,000 tons! Každé molo může vážit až 18 000 tun! Between each pier there is a gate. Mezi každým molem je brána. The Oosterschelde barrier has 62 gates in all. Bariéra Oosterschelde má celkem 62 bran. And each gate is about 30 metres high!

Voice 1

Cars can drive along the top of the Oosterschelde barrier. At places, it is 100 metres wide. The gates below are open during calm weather. Brány níže jsou otevřené za bezvětří. That is because much of the natural environment of the area depends on the flow of the water - the daily tide. To proto, že velká část přírodního prostředí oblasti závisí na proudění vody – denním přílivu a odlivu. But, when there is a strong storm, the gates close. The rising water does not rise above the barrier to flood the cities. Stoupající voda nestoupá nad bariéru, aby zaplavila města.

Voice 2

This was the system the Dutch started building in the 1950s. It has protected them from storms and rising water. And it will continue to protect them into the future.

Voice 1

But, as with any project, there are always things to improve. Ale jako u každého projektu je vždy co zlepšovat. Recently, Dutch scientists have seen a change in the environment surrounding the barriers. Nizozemští vědci nedávno zaznamenali změnu prostředí kolem bariér. The Dutch have lost much of their wetland environment, the natural places at the edge of the water. Nizozemci ztratili velkou část svého mokřadního prostředí, přírodních míst na okraji vody. This includes large sand hills. Patří sem velké písečné kopce. It also includes flat dirt areas - the mudflats. Zahrnuje také plochá znečištěná místa - bahniště. They have seen a decrease in the salt marshes as well. Zaznamenali také úbytek slaných bažin. Each of these areas is special in its own way. Každá z těchto oblastí je svým způsobem zvláštní. They were part of the natural barrier between people and the sea. But they are also home to many animals. Jsou ale také domovem mnoha zvířat. This loss is sad. Tato ztráta je smutná. But, the Dutch do need the barriers. Ale Nizozemci bariéry potřebují. They need to protect their cities and the people living there. Potřebují chránit svá města a lidi, kteří v nich žijí.

Voice 2

So, Dutch engineers have a new idea. Takže nizozemští inženýři mají nový nápad. They want to build “soft” protections instead of building “hard” ones. Chtějí budovat „měkké“ ochrany namísto budování „tvrdých“. They want to support the pier structures with swamps and sand. Chtějí podepřít konstrukce mola bažinami a pískem. They want to use the swamps and sand instead of using concrete. Místo betonu chtějí využít bažiny a písek. They believe that using swamps and sand will act as a natural building method. Věří, že používání bažin a písku bude fungovat jako přirozená stavební metoda. They hope that the swamps and sand areas will naturally grow bigger. Doufají, že bažiny a písečné oblasti se přirozeně zvětší.

Voice 1

People from many countries are learning from the Dutch. The world’s climate continues to change. And this threatens many countries that border the world’s oceans. A to ohrožuje mnoho zemí, které hraničí se světovými oceány. These countries hope to protect their citizens from rising oceans. Tyto země doufají, že ochrání své občany před stoupajícími hladinami oceánů. And they also hope to protect their natural environment. A také doufají, že ochrání své přirozené prostředí.

Voice 2

Engineers from the Dutch Delta project reacted to one crisis. Na jednu krizi zareagovali inženýři z nizozemského projektu Delta. Now, they are helping people in many countries react to a new crisis. Nyní pomáhají lidem v mnoha zemích reagovat na novou krizi. Their ideas continue to change, but by working together, they hope to hold back the flood water of the fiercest storms. Jejich myšlenky se stále mění, ale společnou prací doufají, že zadrží povodňovou vodu těch nejprudších bouří.

Voice 1

The writer of this program was Rebekah Schipper. The producer was Luke Haley. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet atwww.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Holding Back Water: the Delta Project'. Voice 2

You can also leave your comments on our website. Or you can email us atradio@radioenglish.net. You can also find us on Facebook - just search for spotlightradio. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.