你不可不知的「荷蘭趣事」(自然篇)

風車和鬱金香已經成為荷蘭的既定印象,但其實鬱金香的家鄉是在土耳其的高山地區。(©Cindy Liao 攝影)
於荷蘭的自然環境,你一定要知道的 5 個有趣的事實:
1. 粗略的估算,荷蘭有三分之一的領土在海平面以下,而另外三分之一則是非常接近官方 NAP-level 的零測值。荷蘭國際機場–史基浦機場,是全世界地勢最低的機場,機場旁的史基浦火車站位在海平面將近1公尺以下的位置。而阿姆斯特丹市中心因為大量的歷史垃圾堆積,竟然有超過海平面 16 公分,非常厲害。
史基浦機場目前是全世界地勢最低的機場。(©Cindy Liao攝影)
史基浦機場目前是全世界地勢最低的機場。(©Cindy Liao攝影)
2. 荷蘭人(以及住在荷蘭的人)抱怨天氣的頻率大概跟說「Hello」的次數不相上下。數據顯示,荷蘭每年平均只有 125 天是沒有下一滴雨的,也難為他們了。
3. 往往每說「荷蘭」就會很想要接「鬱金香」,但事實上鬱金香並非源自荷蘭,而是來自於土耳其乾燥寒冷的高山地區。但奇妙的是,荷蘭特有的土壤:一種海砂與肥沃黏土混合出的特殊土壤,讓鬱金香生長的最好。

 

荷蘭特有的土壤讓鬱金香生長的最好。(©Cindy Liao攝影)
荷蘭特有的土壤讓鬱金香生長的最好。(©Cindy Liao攝影)
4. 荷蘭出名的豪達起司(Gouda Cheese)並不是產出於城市豪達(Gouda City),而是附近的農村。起名為豪達,是因為荷蘭起司都是以交易買賣的地點命名。
5. 根據荷蘭的國家水利工程設計,如果某單一河岸潰堤,河水氾濫的情況只會在當區控管的領域發生。不過話說回來,如果上天有命,所有河岸在同一時間潰堤,那麼荷蘭有一半以上將被海水河水淹沒。

 

5 Dutch Fun-Facts You Must Know (Dutch Natural)

There are five fun-facts about Dutch nature you must know:

1. One third of the Dutch territory, roughly speaking, is actually below sea level, while another one third is very close to the official zero-measuring (NAP level). Schiphol is the world’s lowest-lying airport. In fact, the NS station next to Schiphol lies 10 metres (32 feet) below sea level.› Downtown Amsterdam lies some 2 metres (6,5 ft) above sea level.

2. Statistically there are 125 days per year without a drop of rain anywhere in the country.

3. Even though tulips originate in the dry and cold mountains of Turkey, they grow best on a special kind of soil behind the dunes that is a mix of sea sands and more fertile clay.

4. The cheese produced on farms was given the name of the town where it was traded. So Gouda cheese in not made in that town but in the region around it.

5. If a dike breaks, only a restricted area – a so-called “dike ring” – would be flooded. But if for some reason, all dikes would break simultaneously, roughly one half of the Netherlands would be flooded.

 

參考資料

Jacob Vossestein (2nd revised edition, 2014) The Dutch and their Delta: Living Below Sea Level

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