Scheldt

From Merelbeke to Avelgem, the Scheldt flows through a flat valley that varies in width from about 500 to 1500 m; the level drops from 12 m at Avelgem to 6 m at Merelbeke. Only small level differences are observed in this plain. They originate from the presence of floodplains, the existence of old filled-in channels, the occurrence of sandy Pleistocene or late glacial ridges (so-called donken), and finally from the excavation of the alluvial clay for brick production. Already in the 18th century, some meander bends were cut off, but most of the cut-offs date from around the turn of the century when the straightening of the Scheldt began. From around 1960, further straightening followed with calibration for a tonnage of 1350 tons and 2000 tons downstream of the dam at Asper.

Pascal Brackman