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Japan To Build 250-Mile-Long, Four Storey-High Wall To Stop Tsunamis

Posted by samzenpus on from the no-wake-zone dept.

An anonymous reader points out this daunting construction plan in Japan. "Japanese authorities have unveiled plans to build a giant 250-mile long sea barrier to protect its coastline from devastating tsunamis. According to the proposals, the £4.6bn ($6.8bn) barrier would reach 12.5m high in some places – stretching taller than a four storey building. It would be made out of cement – and actually be composed of a chain of smaller sea walls to make construction easier. The plan comes four years after a huge tsunami ravaged Japan's north-eastern coast."

3 of 197 comments (clear)

  1. Does Moore's law apply to Tsunamis? by Quick+Reply · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It doesn't matter how big you engineer for, sooner or later something big enough will come along and topple everything. Containing high water levels in nature has been tried many times before and they always fail sooner or later.

    1. Re:Does Moore's law apply to Tsunamis? by Neil+Boekend · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Water often looses. See the Netherlands. In fact: hire the Dutch to design your wall.

      --
      Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
  2. It won't work... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The problem is the wall itself. There will be earthquakes to first crack it.

    And "water always wins", as the Doctor says.