A project to build a dam on the Strait of Gibraltar - which dates back to the 1920s - is expected to be revived in light of the continuing climate changes.
In his report published by the French newspaper, L'Obs Observator (L'Obs), Jean-Paul Fritz said that the idea of building a dam at the Strait of Gibraltar based on the separation of the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean to produce electricity and linking southern Spain to the Moroccan coast, may seem crazy and unattainable.
But this did not prevent her from being brought up on many occasions at the discussion table, and every time she was met with ignorance to join the list of huge projects that had not been seen.
But in the context of climate disturbances, where water levels are likely to rise, the frequency of floods and the need to find clean energy increase, many are wondering about the possibility of reviewing the idea of this project.
The average level will decrease
The project was first proposed by German architect Hermann Sürgel in the late 1920s, and it continued to promote it until his death in 1952.
His project, dubbed "Atlantropia", was to build a hydroelectric dam that would span 14 kilometers separating the rock of Gibraltar from the African continent.
Sorgel has obtained data that 12 times the volume of water flowing from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea is 12 times the flow of Niagara Falls.
The writer mentioned that the Sorgil project was not limited to building a dam in Gibraltar, as it considered it the focus of an hydroelectric network that includes a dam on the Dardanelles, and another dam between Sicily and Tunisia. Through these installations, the Mediterranean level is expected to decrease by about 200 meters.
The project also provides for the need to expand the Suez Canal. The Srugel project goes beyond the Mediterranean, where it was envisaged to build dams on the Congo and the Zambezi rivers, which would fill the basin around the entire Lake Chad and thus provide fresh water for irrigation of the desert.
The writer explained that the "Atlantuba" project is capable of ending conflicts between European countries, and providing vast areas of new arable land. For Sorgel, electric power is the common factor that can unite European countries.
Review the project
After decades, he put up this project again. Since the mid-nineties the authors have taken up this idea and come to different conclusions.
In 2014, Fung Nguyen, a young engineer at the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, considered the idea of building a dam and its consequences. He saw that building the dam was the solution, not the problem, but he valued it differently from Surgil.
"In order to control the water level, two dams must be built, one in the Mediterranean between Spain and Morocco, and the other in the Red Sea between Djibouti and Yemen," says Nguyen. Nguyen also studied maritime traffic and the migration of objects that do not know geographical divisions.
In turn, GVA Angieta presented in the journal "Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship" another scenario for the dam that also allows the crossing of marine neighborhoods, boats and even submarines by opening two kilometers, thus the aim of the dam will only be to protect the coasts from sea level rise.
Warming and the need for a dam
The author pointed out that the Jim Joyer project from the Institute of Oceanography in Canada is probably the most successful project that has been described in detail in the journal "Natural Hazards".
Jim Gower does not plan to build the dam at its narrowest point, because it will be very deep, but rather 15 kilometers west, 25 kilometers long and 284 meters deep. It is recommended to use local rocks that can be transported only for short distances.
The writer added that this structure should be maintained with a difference of one meter between the Atlantic and Mediterranean sides, while allowing ocean water to pass through to compensate for the evaporation that will inevitably occur in the seas.
Goir intends to use 9 channels 50 meters wide and 20 meters deep, allowing water to flow from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, knowing that marine animals, including whales, can use these channels.
But Jim Goyer is not optimistic about the construction process, saying that "it will not be built in the next ten years, not even in the next 50 years. By that time, sea level will have increased significantly."
He added that this phenomenon is related to global warming, and it "makes the dam more necessary, which means that discussions must begin to determine costs, benefits and impacts."
Watch out for the effects
In practical terms, Hermann Sorgel focused on this project on the architectural and technological side, but neglected its consequences on the planet.
Before thinking about how realistic this dam is, it is necessary to take into account all the consequences. It is necessary to ensure that the flora and fauna are not exposed to any danger. It is also necessary to study the details of its effects on ocean currents, which are causing controversy among experts.
For some, the flow of salt water in the Mediterranean Sea has a profound effect on the thermal cycle (currents resulting from the difference in water density). Moreover, the increase in the salinity of the Mediterranean was not quantified, although it could disrupt ecosystems.
For his part, Jim Goer believes that this will not have a serious impact for centuries. On the other hand, he warns of the potential impacts on fishing, especially with the need for boats to pass through Gibraltar and the Suez Canal in order to balance the canal in new marine conditions.
The author asked whether Hermann Sürgell's dream would come true. While it is unlikely that a decision will be made regarding the 200-meter sea level reduction or the construction of a large hydroelectric dam to cover European needs, the Gower Dam is not considered impossible.