Editing Eastern Scheldt

{{short description|Estuary in Zeeland, Netherlands}}
{{For|the tall ship|Oosterschelde (ship)}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Designation list
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_offname = Oosterschelde
| designation1_date = 4 March 1987
| designation1_number = 354<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oosterschelde|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/354|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>}}
[[File:LocatieOosterschelde.png|300px|thumb|Eastern Scheldt (''Oosterschelde'')]]
[[File:Oosterschelde 2023 Zeelandbrug (3).jpg|thumb|Aerial view]]
<!--  Commented out: [[Image:RMSDeltaSouth.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Satellite image of the Scheldt delta showing the Oosterschelde estuary (i) {{pufc|RMSDeltaSouth.jpg}}]] -->

The '''Eastern Scheldt''' ({{langx|nl|Oosterschelde}}) is a former [[estuary]] in the province of [[Zeeland]], Netherlands, between [[Schouwen-Duiveland]] and [[Tholen]] on the north and [[Noord-Beveland]] and [[Zuid-Beveland]] on the south. It also features the largest [[Oosterschelde National Park|national park]] in the Netherlands, founded in 2002.

==History==
[[File:Roggenplaat-Eastern-Scheldt-Zeeland-2020-Luka-Peternel.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Roggenplaat [[shoal]]]]
During the [[Roman Era]] it was the major mouth of the [[Scheldt]] River. Before the [[St. Felix's Flood]] of 1530, it flowed north as a river from the east end of the [[Westerschelde]], turned west a little west of [[Bergen op Zoom]], and then west along the north edge of what is now the [[Verdronken Land van Reimerswaal]], and after that widened into an [[estuary]]. Parts of that lost land were later reclaimed, restricting part of the connection to the Scheldt River to a narrow channel called the Kreekrak, which silted up and became unnavigable. In 1867 the Kreekrak was closed off with a [[railway]] [[Embankment (transportation)|embankment]], connecting in the process the [[island]] of [[Zuid-Beveland]] to the [[mainland]] of [[North Brabant]]. From that moment on, the Oosterschelde lost its connection with the Scheldt, and is no longer functioning as an estuary.

==Navigation and connections==
The Oosterschelde offers a connection to the [[North Sea]] to the west via the Roompotsluis at [[Neeltje Jans]], the [[Grevelingen]] and [[Krammer]] to the northeast via the Grevelingensluis and Krammersluizen at the [[Grevelingendam]] and [[Philipsdam]], the [[Scheldt–Rhine Canal]] to the east via the Bergsediepsluis at the [[Oesterdam]], the [[Western Scheldt]] to the south via the [[Canal through Zuid-Beveland]], and the [[Veerse Meer]] to the southwest via the Zandkreeksluis at the [[Zandkreekdam]].

Between Schouwen-Duiveland and Noord-Beveland there are two road connections, the Oosterscheldedam on the west and the [[Zeeland Bridge]] on the east.

==Storm surge barrier and dam==
[[File:Deltawerke-Oosterschelde-Sturmflutwehr Oosterscheldeseite.jpg|thumb|right|The Oosterscheldekering]]
{{Main|Oosterscheldekering}}
After the [[North Sea flood of 1953]], it was decided to close off the Oosterschelde by means of a dam and a [[Flood barrier|storm surge barrier]]. The [[Oosterscheldekering]] (Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier), between Schouwen-Duiveland and Noord-Beveland, is the largest of 13 ambitious [[Delta Works]] designed to protect a large part of the Netherlands from flooding. A four-kilometre section has huge [[sluice|sluice gates]], which are normally open but can be closed in adverse weather.

Upon completion of the Oosterscheldekering and Oesterdam in 1986, the ebb and flow of water decreased and thus the [[tide|tidal]] height differential was reduced from {{convert|3.40|m|ft}} to {{convert|3.25|m|ft}}. As a result, the [[shoals]] are no longer being naturally replenished with sand, further disrupting the [[ecosystem]] of the estuary; the shoals are used for, among other things, food for birds and resting places for [[Pinniped|seals]].<ref name="Watersnoodmuseum">{{cite web |title=Oosterscheldekering |url=https://watersnoodmuseum.nl/kennisbank/oosterscheldekering-4/ |website=watersnoodmuseum.nl/ |publisher=Watersnoodmuseum |access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref> To help compensate for the partial loss of the tide resulting in the sand being less stirred up and ending up on the banks, [[Rijkswaterstaat]] applied large amounts of sand to the Roggeplaat shoal in the northwestern part of the estuary in 2019 and 2020.<ref name="Watersnoodmuseum"/>

==Oosterschelde National Park==
[[File:NP-OosterscheldeKaart.jpg|thumb|right|The Oosterschelde National Park]]
[[File: Sepia officinalis Zeelandbrug.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Sepia officinalis]]'']]
{{Main|Oosterschelde National Park}}

Since May 8, 2002, the entire Oosterschelde has been designated as a [[national park]]. Its boundaries are the dikes of [[Schouwen-Duiveland]], [[Tholen]], [[Sint Philipsland (island)|Sint Philipsland]], [[Noord-Beveland]], [[Zuid-Beveland]], and the dams of the [[Delta Works]]. Having an area of {{convert|370|km2|sqmi}}, it is the largest national park in the Netherlands. Total shore length is {{convert|125|km|mi}}.

The park consists primarily of the salt waters of the Oosterschelde, but also includes some mud flats, meadows and shoals. Because of the large variety of sea life, including unique regional species, the park is popular with [[scuba diving|scuba divers]]. Other activities include sailing, fishing, cycling and bird watching.

==See also==
* [[Delta Works]]
* [[Western Scheldt]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.npoosterschelde.nl/ Oosterschelde National Park official website]
*[https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.631279,3.701706&spn=0.105228,0.201530&t=k&hl=en Satellite view, google maps]

{{Coord|51|33|14|N|3|57|57|E|display=title|region:NL_type:waterbody_source:nlwiki}}
{{Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta]]
[[Category:Scheldt basin|0Easternscheldt]]
[[Category:Landforms of Zeeland]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Zeeland]]
[[Category:Noord-Beveland]]
[[Category:Schouwen-Duiveland]]
[[Category:Tholen]]
[[Category:Zuid-Beveland]]