- Bog moss, foto fitis, sytske dijksen
Peat bog
A peat bog is an accumulation of partially degraded vegetation. When the remains of plants and trees accumulate on the bottom of a pond, a so-called fen is created. High peat bog, or moor, forms from plants that do not have contact with groundwater, but are totally dependent upon rainwater for growth. Bog-moss is the most important plant in this biotope. High peat bog can grow meters higher than its surroundings.
- Lots of peat
- Disappearance of the peat bog , Ecomare
After the last glacial period, not only did the sea level rise but the groundwater level rose as well. Large marshes formed along the coast. Bog-moss flourished and eventually formed a thick pack of peat. The peat bog region was immense: around 1700 B.C., half of the Netherlands was made up of peat. The present-day wadden region was mainly peat bog.
- Human intervention
- Remains of peat on the beach, foto fitis, sytske dijksen
Since the 10th century, the farmers started cultivating the land. By digging ditches, the groundwater level was lowered. Water flowed out of the bog and the bog settled. In addition, it became exposed to the air. The oxygen in the air caused the plants to rot.
Settling and oxidation caused the bog surface to subside around two centimeters per year. Since drainage of the peat bog began, the bottom of the wadden region has subsided 5.5 meters. As a result, the land became more vulnerable for flooding. Lots of land was lost during tidal flood disasters due to this human intervention.
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