Breakwater (structure)

The term refers to a pier projecting as a dam in a lake, a river or the sea embankment, secured by a stone, concrete or wood construction.

Purpose and structure

A mole is used as a breakwater and a harbor wall, which is often expanded on the protected inside a dock for boats and ships. Molen, several hundred meters long, protrude into the sea and be straight or curved built.

Often a Mole is part of a port or a channel entrance. On the so-called Molenkopf a lighthouse can also ( a beacon ) are located. One then speaks of a pier light. This serves as a point of orientation and navigation aid for shipping.

A special function have the moles in the atoll -like land reclamation projects, the Palm Islands and The World (archipelago ) off the coast of Dubai. Here the moles are used in two capacities, shaft protection of the country washed up inside the protective walls and due to their width ( at the front and 800 m) at the same time even new territory for construction.

Special moles

The more than a thousand years old Molo Vecchio of Genoa is 490 m long and protected the city both from storms and from attackers.

At the German North Sea coast are at the Brunsbütteler entrance of the Elbe into the North Sea-Baltic Canal four moles with beacon. The oldest, built in 1894/95, was admitted in July 2005 as a motif in the stamp series lighthouses.

Related terms

  • Quay
  • Pier ( a pier jutting out into the sea without breakwater function)
  • Pontoon
  • Artificial coral reef
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