Hangu Seashelter

 breakwater  Add category

A rather peculiarly Tianjinese bit of hydraulic engineering, these 泥质海挡, mud seablocks or "seashelters" are not normal breakwaters keeping waves out, but barriers keeping mud in. They are designed to create a lagoon effect and make tides settle silt in a smooth slope, a long intertidal mudflat which is then planted with cordgrass and tamarisk at appropriate levels. The idea is to provide a natural protection against storm surges by keeping high tides from eroding the smooth slope. Since they were designed, reclamation and big seawalls have become more usual ways to keep the sea at (the) bay, but this Hangu seashelter and another one in Nangang still attempt to take this more eco-friendly approach

泥质海岸海挡生态引淤护坡