The Thames Barrier on the up stream side with the gates in the raised (defensive) position to allow "underspill".


The Thames Barrier is a large flood control structure on the River Thames, constructed between 1974 and 1982. Located downstream of central London, the barrier's purpose is to prevent London from being flooded by an exceptionally high tide moving up from the sea, often exacerbated by a storm surge. It only needs to be raised for the duration of the high tide - at ebb tide it can be lowered to release upstream water that backs up behind it.


Size: 6070px × 4032px
Location: UK, London, Near Woolwich.
Photo credit: © Paul Springett A / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: abutments, age, agency, attraction, barricade, barrier, blockade, blue, charlton, close, closed, closeup, construction, control, cross, crossing, day, daytime, defence, defences, defencive, defense, defensive, detail, device, distinctive, domed, domes, england, english, environment, environmental, estuary, flood, flooding, floods, gate, gates, global, high, kingdom, landmark, level, levels, london, mechanism, metal, metallic, piers, precaution, precautionary, protect, protected, protection, rise, rising, river, safety, sea, shining, shiny, sight, silver, sky, space, span, spill, stream, structure, sun, sunny, sunshine, technology, test, testing, thames, tide, time, uk, underspill, united, upstream, view, warming, water, waterway, woolwich