The Fens

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/the-fens

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is The Fens?Approximately 1,500 square miles (3,900 square kilometers)
2. What is the location?Eastern England, spanning parts of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk
3. What is the agricultural land classification?Contains roughly 50% of England's Grade 1 agricultural land
4. How did people turn the Fens into farmland?People built many dykes and drains, like artificial rivers, to pull water out of the land. This drainage lets the soil dry and be used for farming.
5. Why does the land in the Fens sink?The drained peat soil starts to break down and squish, so the land slowly sinks. This is called land subsidence.

Land Subsidence: The gradual sinking of the ground surface, often caused by the drainage and decomposition of peat soils.
National Character Area: A distinct geographical region defined by its unique landscape, biodiversity, and cultural heritage.
Peat Decomposition: The breakdown of organic matter in peat soils when exposed to air, leading to shrinkage and subsidence.
Hydrological Management: The planning, development, and operation of water systems, crucial for managing water levels in the Fens.