A protective embankment is a structure built to protect land from flooding or other water damage. A SCARP is a steep slope or cliff, an escarp is a long, steep slope at the edge of a plateau or ridge, a LEVEE is an embankment built along a river to prevent flooding, and a DIKE is an embankment built to prevent flooding or to hold back water. All of these structures are used to protect land from water damage and are collectively referred to as protective embankments.