Why does Amsterdam have canals? скачать в хорошем качестве

Why does Amsterdam have canals?

Centuries ago, Amsterdam is was not much more than a fishing village on the river Amstel. It is located in the middle of marsh, so if you had build a stone house, it would have sunk before you were even back from the coffee shop. They solved this by driving long, wooden poles into the peatland, until they hit a firm layer of sand beneath the peat. Pole by pole, Amsterdam grows into a popular seaport. In the Golden Age, the city digs a number of long, broad canals: the Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht. This allows the merchants to build warehouses that could easily be supplied by through barges. And while you're at it, you can have a luxurious home built next door! If you run out of tea, just pop next door for a fresh bale. In 2010 the historic canal belt is declared a Unesco World Heritage site, as it is an 'engineering marvel of human genius.' How convenient, because most people who live there like to think of themselves as geniuses, too...