Sleeping dike

Sleeping dike on the municipal border between Westerdeichstrich and Hedwigenkoog , Dithmarschen (photo taken with the back to the current coastline)

A sleeping dike is a dike that is on the land side (inner side) of an existing newer dike. Since in most cases it is located inland , it is sometimes referred to as an inland dike .

The construction of a new dike does not necessarily follow the route of the existing old dike. If the route of the old dike is on the land side of the new dike, the "old dike" is often preserved. It then forms a second (“sleeping”) line of dykes, which provides additional security in the event of extreme floods , the sleeping dike.

This often happens when a new Koog is created through land reclamation . The outer border of the Kooges is the new dike, the older dike is now between two pieces of land.