A berm is a mound of earth, either natural or man-made, often found near water. They have been used for centuries for various purposes, including defense, erosion prevention, and landscaping. They can be simple or complex, with some lasting for centuries and blending in with the natural landscape. They are also used in green design to insulate homes and reduce carbon footprints. The term comes from Dutch and is used to discuss barriers in the natural landscape.
A berm is a natural or man-made mound of earth, often found near bodies of water. Docks are among the oldest man-made constructions and have been used for centuries to contain areas, strengthen defences, aid in the construction of houses, provide privacy and add variation to a landscape. The term is also used to refer to the flattened area of a beach slightly above the tide line created by repeated deposits of sediment from storm surges. The word is of Dutch origin and is one of many Dutch words used to discuss barriers in the natural landscape.
A basic earthwork can be created simply by piling up soil and is almost always found in close proximity to a trench or other excavated area. In this case, the gently sloping terrain helps prevent erosion, a common problem, especially with deep trenches. This type is common in defense engineering constructions, because it is difficult to advance above the construction and soldiers can use the mound to provide defensive cover. In military terms, this is also sometimes called an earthwork, and archaeological evidence of ancient military earthworks has been found in many parts of the world. Many road construction crews also create such berms, which help act as a sound baffle for nearby homes as they dig the ground for a new road.
The more complex ones have a sturdy substrate made of rocks or gravel, topped with clay and finally packed with earth. This type of more permanent embankment is often used to contain floodwaters, provide a barrier between land belonging to different people, or to confine livestock. If well maintained, they can last for centuries and have a profound impact on the landscape in which they are built. In some cases, the mound is so old that it is not easily recognized as a man-made construction and can be confused with part of the natural landscape.
In landscaping and architecture, many green designers use docks extensively. Because they look and feel natural, they can help insulate a home from noise and wind without being intrusive, like a fence. The berm itself can be landscaped with grass and trees to give it a more natural look and feel. Some green designers will actually surround a home with such earthworks to blend in with the surroundings while providing insulation from wind and preventing heat loss from the home. This also reduces the home’s carbon footprint, because it requires fewer resources to heat and cool. A classic example of a bermuda house is the hobbit holes seen in Lord of the Rings, which seem to blend naturally into the surrounding hills.
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