Name Class Date secTion geography Use with Europe Geography & History, Section 1.3, in your textbook. ION 1.3 Go to Interactive Whiteboard GeoActivities at T to complete this activity online. GeoActivity myNGconnect.com SEC 1.3 MoUnTains, RiVers, and Plains Explore Amsterdam’s Canals THe CAnAlS OF AmSterDAm Read the passage below to learn more about Amsterdam in the Netherlands N B r ou and the role the canal system plays in city life. Then use the information in the EW w er sg passage and the map to answer the questions. S ra IJ cht IJ Central Geography & History Europe Station Amsterdam’s Canals Brantasgracht Lamonggracht Majanggracht IJ Bay Oude Seranggracht Water control played a major role in the development of the city of Singelgracht Kerk Amsterdam. The city and its port are located in the western Netherlands. 0 1,500 3,000 Feet Before the 12th century, the area was barely habitable—it was mostly bogs and wetlands at the end of the Amstel River, which tended to flood. Villagers built 0 500 1,000 Meters Prinsengracht Herengracht City Hall & Opera a dam to control the floods and to create a harbor for ships and trade. The Keizersgracht Kloveniers- Amstel Dam is how the city got its name. burgwal University of Zwanen- Amsterdam burgwal North Sea The first canals were dug in the early 1400s as the city expanded. Canals Amstel River National Museum provided protection as well as access to the sea. They created polders, or for Art & History Amsterdam NETHERLANDS Y artificially drained land, on which buildings could be constructed. The city N A M expanded in the 1500s, and by the 1600s, trade exploded. To keep up with R Map Tip The suffix -gracht means BELGIUM GE the rapid growth, more canals were built around the old city center. The maze “canal” in Dutch. Dock of connecting canals could bring in ships to more merchants and warehouses. In time, hundreds of streets and smaller canals fanned out from the center, 2. Analyze Cause and Effect How did the Netherlands’ geography affect creating 90 islands and 1,280 bridges—a marvel of city planning. Amsterdam NGWG_GEO_U05_C09_S1.3_M024 Amsterdam’s economy? today has about 62 miles of canals. NGM66 GA30 Canals of Amsterdam Fourth Proof 1. Identify Problems and Solutions What major problem did the earliest 04/21/11 settlers of Amsterdam encounter? How did they solve the problem? 3. Interpret Maps What pattern do you notice in the layout of Amsterdam’s canals? Draw additional canals on the map to add to the pattern. Why might city planners have created this pattern? © NGSP & HB 007-016_GA00000_U05C09S1.indd 3 4/21/11 2:02 PM.