Wijkermeer and IJpolders
The Wijkermeer and IJpolders were the main channel of the IJ. When the mouth of the IJ near Castricum silted up, a swampy area with peat formed here.
During the Middle Ages, the sea level rose, connecting the Zuiderzee with the Wadden Sea and causing seawater to enter the original Oer-IJ basin from the east. From then on, the Primeval IJ is called the IJ. IJ and Sea Dykes In the late Middle Ages, the IJ and the Wijkermeer connected with the northern lakes, making the sea water a threat to the inhabitants of the surrounding beach ridges such as Uitgeest and Akersloot. Because the peat bog was getting bigger, the IJ dykes were built in the 12th century to protect the area. Later, in the 14th century, the Zeedijk was also added. V As the meandering IJ widened, the Wijkermeer lake was created. In the 19th century, the lake was drained during the digging of the North Sea Canal. Today, the area is fertile due to the nutrient-rich clay deposits of the former IJ and is used for arable farming.
Note: Cycle to junction 8.