The Thames Barrier in London
© John Alexander/plainpicture
The Thames Barrier in London
When unusually high tides on the North Sea cause the River Thames to rise, the Thames Barrier, made up of 10 steel gates, prevents it from flooding London. Spanning 520 metres across the river, it is one of the largest movable flood barriers in the world. The deadly North Sea flood of 1953 prompted the construction of the barrier, which was officially opened by the Queen in 1984.
Related Images
Wintertime at Tenby Harbour in Pembrokeshire, Wales
Valletta, Malta
Château d'If in Marseille, France
Dinant and the River Meuse in Namur, Belgium
Mann Island buildings, Canning Dock, Liverpool
Salcombe harbour on the south coast of Devon
Cannes, France, where the annual film festival begins today
View of the harbour in Sitka, Alaska, USA
Bing Today Images
Whooper swans, Kotoku Pond, Japan
Dec 30, 2025
Daiichi Tadami River Bridge, Fukushima, Japan
Dec 30, 2023
Rock formations in the White Desert, Egypt
Dec 30, 2022
Westerheversand Lighthouse in Westerhever, Germany
Dec 30, 2021
Winter in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
Dec 30, 2020
A sea slug in the waters off Bali
Dec 30, 2018
Hohenzollern Castle near Stuttgart, Germany
Dec 30, 2016
