Thames Barrier floodgates, Woolwich, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

A storm surge steel gate closed following a bad storm in Seaton, to protect the town against flooding, Devon, England, United Kingdom, Europe

A house in Wells Next the Sea with a flood gate to protect against storm surge coastal flooding, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

A house with floodgate protection in Keswick, Lake District, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe

aerial view of the Hindenburg locks on the Mittelland Canal Midland Canal, in Anderten, Hanover Lower saxony, northern Germany

Lock and houseboats in a canal in Knowle, West Midlands, England, Great Britain, Europe

Close-up of container ships chanelling into the Holtenau floodgate, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Europe

Shipping traffic on the Kiel-Canal, in the back the Schleuse Holtenau lock, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Europe

Shipping traffic at the Schleuse Holtenau lock, container ships and cruise ship, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Europe

Eider Barrier on the mouth of River Eider near Toenning - largest German coastal protection building, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Two house boats, narrowboats at a floodgate, path, Bath, Avon Canal, Somerset, England, Great Britain, Europe

Dortmund-Ems Canal, floodgate in Muenster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Town hall, Stadthausschleuse floodgate, Hamburg, Germany, Europe

Dortmund-Ems Canal floodgate and railway bridge in Muenster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe