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When traveling between continents, water transport is simply indispensable. But even if there is an alternative, it remains the most economical way to move goods.
Unfortunately, water makes its way wherever nature wants, not man. This lengthens the path, sometimes significantly.
What to do if a person wants to straighten the waterway or “cut the corner” of the route? Digging a canal Let’s get acquainted with the ten most famous shipping channels.
10 Middle German Canal (Germany)
- Length: 326 km
- Connects: the rivers Rhine and Oder
A complex complex of hydraulic structures, the construction of which began after the end of World War II, consists of many locks, dams and individual channels connecting the tributaries of large water arteries.
Crossing almost all of Germany, Middle German Canal provides transport connectivity for almost all of Europe from the Atlantic to the Black Sea.
The longest of Germany’s canals, at 326 km long, the canal passes through scenic spots and is a popular water excursion route.
In addition to numerous historical sights, located along the banks of the canal, tourists are also fascinated by “water bridges” – navigable aqueducts. The feeling that you are literally “floating over the river” leaves an unforgettable impression.
9. Houston Ship Canal (USA)
- Length: 80 km
- Connects: Texas and Gulf of Mexico
Historically, it was just one branch of the Buffalo Bay River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico.
In the early XNUMXth century, entrepreneurs Augustus and John Allen farsightedly suggested that the land along the river might be suitable for building settlements and bought up the river banks.
Gradually, a bustling city grew along Buffalo Bay, quickly becoming a center of commerce and industry. And the problem arose: ocean-going ships could park in the Gulf of Mexico – but it would be desirable to build industrial enterprises and trade terminals along the already sprawling city.
From 1855 to 1914, work continued to expand and deepen the mouth of the river, to strengthen its banks. As a result, in 1914 the “Houston Shipping Canal”, which actually connects the land area (the center of the state of Texas) with the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
8. Kiel Canal (Germany)
- Length: 98 km
- Connects: Bay of Kiel and Elbe River
In 1887, the government of Kaiser Wilhelm II quite practical and quickly set about building a navigable canal, designed to connect the basins of the Baltic and North Seas. Previously, this function was performed by the Ayder Canal, 175 km long (together with the bed of the Ayder River).
Kiel Canal, opened in 1895, provided a shorter route – only 98 km. Moreover, its parameters ensured the piloting of heavy ships, which was indispensable for the growing German navy.
On both sides, the canal ends with a system of locks, allowing independent pilotage of small and large tonnage vessels, which increases the throughput of the complex.
7. Volga-Don Canal (Russia)
- Length: 101 km
- Connects: Volga and Don rivers
Back in the XNUMXth century, the Turkish Sultan Selim II attempted to dig a canal between the two great rivers for military purposes. The attempt failed, at that time the Turks had neither the time nor the technical capabilities for such an event.
The great reformer Peter I was also aware of the importance of a direct waterway for military affairs. By his decree, construction was even started, but the Northern Wars did not even make it possible to develop it.
Only at the end of the 40s of the XX century was it possible to develop feasible projects Volga-Don Canal and start implementing them. The hydrotechnical complex opened in 1962 connects the basins of the Black, Azov and Caspian Seas.
6. Rhine-Main-Danube Canal (Germany)
- Length: 171 km
- Connects: river Rhine and Danube
Charlemagne (VIII century AD) in 793 began the construction of what 1200 years later (in 1992) provided river navigation from the shores of the Atlantic to the Black Sea – also providing access to the North Sea.
Charlemagne began by building the relatively small Carolingian Canal, which connected the tributaries of the Danube and the Main.
In the XNUMXth century, the Ludwig Canal was built, but it turned out to be practically unnavigable, and during World War II it was practically destroyed.
Nevertheless, in 1960, the construction of the canal began along the path proposed by Charlemagne, but executed according to modern navigation standards.
Opened in 992, Rhine-Main-Danube canal contains 16 locks and is recognized as a cultural and historical value.
5. White Sea-Baltic Sea Canal (Russia)
- Length: 227 km
- Connects: White Sea (Arctic) and Lake Onega (Baltic)
References to the waterway between the White Sea and the Baltic have been found in sources since the XNUMXth century. Peter I was very interested in the idea of arranging a canal between these basins, but they were able to start developing the project only in the XNUMXth century.
The Soviet government took advantage of the already ready – but not implemented – tsarist projects and decided to bring them to life.
During the “first five-year plan” (from 1931 to 1933), a hydraulic structure was built by forced labor of numerous prisoners.
Unfortunately, the rapid construction of the canal did not allow for sufficient dimensions of the passage. Large ocean-going vessels and river-sea vessels experience difficulties in guiding. But White Sea-Baltic Sea Canal retains a unique value as a northern tourist route.
4. Corinth Canal (Greece)
- Length: 6 km
- Connects: Aegean Sea and Ionian Sea
Back in the 6th century BC, the Greeks tried to secure a passage from the Aegean to the Ionian. The Isthmus of Corinth, which connects the central part of Greece with the Peloponnese peninsula, at its narrowest point has a diameter of only XNUMX km.
But something kept getting in the way. Even Nero in the XNUMXst century AD. I had to abandon the work already begun, because in Rome an uprising ripened against him and I had to urgently return to my homeland.
But after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the issue of transport efficiency became more acute than ever, and the Greek government insisted on completing the canal.
In 1893, the route was opened and immediately allowed to reduce trans-Greek transit by 400 km.
Now the Aegean and Ionian Seas in Greece connect Corinth Canal 6 km long and 8 m deep. A width of 25 m makes it possible to pass almost all middle-class sea vessels.
3. Panama Canal (Panama)
- Length: 77 km
- Connects: Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean
The need to connect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans has been obvious to all travelers and merchants since the XNUMXth century. Despite the fact that such a grandiose structure at that time was impossible to implement, King Philip II of Spain prudently vetoed the design.
In 1879, France tried to seize the initiative and even received a construction concession from the Colombian government. But the work went neither shaky nor rolls, and the contractor went bankrupt with an international scandal.
In 1904, the US government took over. And opening in 1914 panama canal marked the accomplishment of one of the most ambitious projects in the history of mankind.
2. Suez Canal (Egypt-Africa)
- Length: 160 km
- Connects: Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea
The ancient Egyptians were well aware of the importance of the shortest trade routes. The first mention of the “canal of the pharaohs”, which connected the Red Sea with the Nile, dates back to the VIII century BC.
By the XNUMXnd century BC. the canal was already reliably navigable. And at the end of the XNUMXth century AD, Napoleon Bonaparte, during the Egyptian campaign, was seriously interested in the restoration of the ancient canal and its extension to the Mediterranean Sea.
The project was fully implemented only in 1869, and now ships do not have to go around the African continent on their way from Europe to India.
Favorable architecture Suez Canal (lack of locks, significant depth and width) allows even the largest sea vessels, including supertankers, to pass through.
1. Grand Canal (China)
- Length: 1782 km
- Connects: the Yellow River and the Yangtze
A truly grandiose complex of hydraulic structures connects the water arteries of the western, northern and southeastern provinces of China.
For 24 centuries, canals were painstakingly broken through, dams and locks were erected, which as a result created a system of waterways that entangled almost all of China.
The length of the main channel is 1782 km, but with branches the total length of the system is 2470 km. Differences in the levels of the connected rivers are compensated by 21 locks. Small (only from 2 to 3 meters) depth, however, is quite sufficient for river navigation.
With the development of the railway network, economic importance Grand Canal decreased somewhat. But it remains a grandiose historical monument, and also has value for tourism.