Over the centuries the gulf silted up with alluvium carried by the Meander River. But during antiquity the sediments from the Meander River silted up the harbour of Miletus. This waterway was dug when the former Middelzee silted up. The sand also silted up Dunfanaghy harbour. This had silted up due to a man-made cut through the Dee estuary. As the harbour became silted up, the city was abandoned. It was silted, muddy, and mixed with river and city waters. The harbours are now silted up and known as the "Langa Bostan" park. Many deserted village sites were silted over. Arundel docks silted up between 1875 and 1896. Easy sea access halted with a 1795 hurricane which silted Roanoke Inlet. Attempts were made to restore the condition of the moat, which had become badly silted. Ultimately, the battle was lost; the harbour silted up and New Romney declined in importance. Other former tarns have silted up. The dam is also being rapidly silted due to deforestation in the surrounding areas.