Herman Sörgel

Who was Herman Sörgel?

Herman Sörgel was a German architect. He was the originator of the idea of Atlantropa—a utopian continent created by damming the Strait of Gibraltar, the Dardanelles, and the Congo river. His idea called for the damming, and thus lowering, of the Mediterranean Sea level and then making use of the difference between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic sea levels to generate hydro-electric power. Sorgel's idea to lower sea levels would increase the dry land areas around the Mediterranean and provide overland access to Africa. Damming the Congo river would refill the basin surrounding Lake Chad providing fresh water to irrigate the Sahara and shipping access to the African interior.

In 1942, Sörgel was banned from publishing his works by the Nazis. Some of his publications included:

Sörgel, Herman. Mittelmeer-Senkung. Sahara-Bewässerung = Lowering the Mediterranean, Irrigating the Sahara, pamphlet. Leipzig: J.M. Gebhardt.

Sörgel, Herman. Europa-Afrika: ein Weltteil. pp. 983–987. Retrieved 2006.

Sörgel, Herman. Atlantropa. Munich: Fretz & Wasmuth, Zurich / Piloty & Löhle.

Sörgel, Herman. Foreword to "Technokratie - die neue Heilslehre" by Wayne W. Parrish. Munich: R. Piper & Co.