ZUIDER ZEE, a large gulf penetrating deep into the Netherlands, between 52° 26' and 53° 20' n. lat., is about 60 in. in length, and 210 m. in circumference. The islands Texel, Vlieland, Ter Schelling, Ameland, and Schiermonnikoog, reaching in a chain from the most northern point of Holland, are the remains of the former line of coast, which form a breakwater against the North sea. From Dunkirk in French Flanders to the n. of Holland, the interior is defended from the sea by sand-hills or downs. Here, as at the mouth of the Scheldt, the sand-barrier was broken, and the waters, overflowing the low lands, separated the province of Friesland from the peninsula of North Holland, and having united with the small inner lake Flevo, formed the present Zuider Zee. The decisive inudation occured in 1282.
In the Zuidef Zee lie the islands of Wieringen,Urk, Schokland, and Marken, with a pop. of about 5,000 souls. Fishing is the principal industry. The light-tower on the e. point of Marken stands in 52° 27' 37° n. lat. ; and the inhabitants are a hardy, indus trious, and independent people, who live by fishing and exporting meadow-hay. They
cling tenaciously to their old customs, and never marry except among themselves. The houses are built on artificial mounds, or "hills of refuge ;" and being liable to frequent and heavy floods, few cows or sheep are kept, no gardens or trees planted, the necessaries of life being almost all brought from the main-land.
From the s.e. of the Zuider Zee, a long norrow arm, called the Y (pronounced /), formerly ran nearly due w. through the peninsula of Holland. A strong sea-dyke and locks have been constructed to cut off the Zuider Zee from the Y, through which a broad ship-canal has been made between Amsterdam and the North sea, on which a new harbor is approaching completion. On both sides of the new canal the Y has been drained and turned into abotit 12,000 acres of rich land. The new water-way was formally opened by the king in 1876. It is proposed to make a, dyke from the mouth of the Yssel to Enkbuisen, and drain the central part of the Zuider 'Zee, making room for 200,000 inhabitants, and adding nearly 500,000 acres to the arable land of the Nether lands.