The Thames Barrier

Thames Barrier is a movable river dam on the River Thames. It was built between 1974 and 1984. The event that had a direct impact on the decision to build it was the flood that hit the Netherlands in 1953. The devastating action of the element was also felt by Great Britain - over 30 people were killed then, and over 40,000 were left homeless.

The dam is a key element of flood protection in central and west London. The structure is 520 m long, consists of 9 reinforced concrete pillars with movable gates between them. They lie flat at the bottom of the river, and rise to create a dam when faced with threats.

The dam is often called the "eighth wonder of the world". The cost of its construction amounted to nearly 500 million pounds. Over the years, probably due to its aesthetic value and importance, the firewall appeared in many music videos, films and serials (Total Death, Doctor Who, Secretists).