For those of you who woke up today wondering how a gabion is constructed, you are in luck. This video was shot at the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park.
Gabion Construction 101
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Much larger gabions were used in some civil engineering projects after the war. In Galveston the Corps of Engineers undertook a major harbor improvement project by constructing and sinking enormous gabions, 6 to 8 feet high and 10 to 12 feet in diameter, filled with stones and concrete, to help narrow the tidal flow in and out of the bay to keep a deep-water channel open. It turned out not to work very well, but it was an ambitious and innovative undertaking regardless.
No joke, I have long planned to give a gabion talk this weekend at the Image of War Seminar’s visit to Yorktown. Photos are printed and all! The video at least helped me question my pronunciation of “gabion.”
I thought it was “gabby-on.” Kevin’s always looking out for his readers!