Why certain German cities depend on constant pumping to stay dry
In Germany's Ruhr Valley, deep coal mining has permanently altered the landscape. This video explores the critical infrastructure managed by Emschergenossenschaft that prevents widespread flooding in this industrial region.
The Ruhr Valley, an industrial coal-mining hub in north-west Germany, has undergone significant geological changes. Decades of kilometre-deep mining have caused parts of the region to sink, fundamentally altering natural drainage patterns. To manage this, the Emschergenossenschaft operates a system of pumps that are vital to the area's stability. If these pumps were to ever stop, several towns and cities within the region would face flooding.
Source: If these pumps ever stop, part of Germany floods.
