Markermeer, The Netherlands

The Markermeer is a 700 km² (270 sq mi) lake in the central Netherlands in between North Holland, Flevoland, and its smaller and larger neighbors, the IJmeer and IJsselmeer. A shallow lake at 3 to 5 m in depth, matching the reclaimed land to its west, north-west and east it is named after the small former island, now peninsula, of Marken on its west shore.

Маркермер (озеро в Нидерландах)

Markermeer (Lac aux Pays-Bas)

مارکرمیر (دریاچه در هلند)

Because of changing priorities and doubts about its financial feasibility, the Markerwaard was indefinitely postponed in the 1980s and the Markermeer has since begun to become a valuable ecological and recreational asset of its own. The Markermeer is used as a freshwater reservoir and a buffer against floodwaters and droughts. In 2003 the Netherlands was hit by drought, and several minor dikes were endangered. Water from the Markermeer was used to keep the area surrounding Amsterdam wet, thereby keeping the dikes safe. The Marker Wadden are some created islands in the north of the lake and has breeding grounds for seabirds. The islands are a wetland, comparable with the Wadden Sea, but without appreciable tides because the Markermeer is not connected with the sea.