the.com/embankment
a wall of dirt that bullies entire rivers into staying in their lane
flood defenseHolds back oceans for whole nations below sea level
rail backboneMost early railways ran atop man-made earthen ridges
levee breachOne weak spot can drown a city
london's spineReclaimed Thames mud to hide Victorian sewers
ancient craftMesopotamians piled them up over 5,000 years ago