From the first millennia of its history, mankind has been trying to transform nature. One of the large-scale such transformations is the construction of large shipping channels. Small boats, pleasure boats, and large bulk carriers can move along them. Many of these aquatic arteries perform irrigation functions. We set off on a journey through the water surface to visit the longest man-made canals in the world.
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Panama Canal. 81.6 km
The most illustrious canal connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans was officially opened in 1920, although the first ship passed through it back in 1914. It is considered the height of engineering when mankind managed to break through the path of ocean water through the mainland.
The construction was associated with multiple scandals, and construction companies changed several times, carrying out work on the connecting water isthmus of the two Americas. From the first days of its operation, it was controlled by the US authorities, and in 1999 it was transferred to Panama.
There is an alternative to the Panamanian engineering marvel. In 2014, the Nicaraguan authorities approved a project to build a new waterway through the territory of their country, which will connect the two oceans of the world.
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Kiel Canal. 98 km
It got its name from the city of Kiel, which stands on the shores of the Baltic Sea. And he knitted the channel of the North and Baltic Seas, becoming an important navigable artery of Europe.
It was opened in June 1895, and today in the transport system it is the busiest man-made waterway in Europe. It took 8 years to build, and before the First World War, the canal was expanded to ensure the passage of large military vessels.
Between the two world wars, Germany had all the rights to it, and now it is in the international use of all the sea powers of the world.
10
Volga-Don Canal. 101 km
From ancient times, the Slavs used the narrowest distance between the Don and the Volga to drag their vessels from one river to another by drag. In the 16th century, the first attempts were made to connect two rivers by a canal.
Shipping finally began in 1952, when the waters of the Don and Volga merged in the area of the 1st and 2nd locks. The significance of the renowned engineering structure is also in the fact that it connected the Caspian Sea with the World Ocean.
The canal has become part of a single transport system in the European part of Russia, and now projects are being developed to expand it in order to increase freight traffic.
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Channel named after Moscow. 128 km
Until 1947 it was called the Moscow-Volga Canal, and they built it in 1937. KiM has become an important waterway connecting the capital of the USSR and the largest river in the European part of the Soviet Union. By the way, there is an interesting article about the biggest rivers of the world on thebiggest.
Gateway number 4 channel them. Moscow: Dedenevo, Dmitrovsky district, Moscow region. Author: Alexey Zadonsky.
It flows through the expanses of the Tver and Moscow regions, partially capturing Moscow as well. Its main difference from other channels is that it is not gravity-fed, but “energetic”. Water flow into it from the Volga is fed by special pumps.
In total, 11 locks are located on it, which provide navigation, leveling a large elevation difference. For navigation at the Krasnoye Sormovo plant, special vessels were launched that are operated only in KiM.
8
Imperial. 145 km
With this Russian name, the building is located in Ireland, and it was built in 1817. Thousands of workers worked on its creation for 27 years.
The magnificent construction connected the important port of Dublin with the Shannon River. Large cargo and passenger ships sailed along it, providing up to half of the country's freight traffic. Over time, the channel lost its economic and economic importance.
For many years it was abandoned, and in October 2010 it resumed shipping, having spent almost 1.5 million pounds for reconstruction.
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Rhine - Mine - Danube. 171 km
The idea to connect the rivers flowing through the territory of Europe, originated during the reign of Charlemagne in 793. In modern times, work continued. The navigable artery was rebuilt several times, supplemented with new structures, and in its modern form opened in 1992.
In total, it is equipped with 16 locks, eleven of which operate in the Rhine basin, and 5 in the Danube basin. His head is located near the town of Bamberg, and the mouth of the town of Kelheim on the Danube.
Its width is 55 m. And the depth reaches 4 m. Some sections of the canal are equipped with beautiful aqueducts, which are considered real monuments of architecture.
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Suez Canal. 193.3 km
The famous canal connected the Red and Mediterranean Seas, and it also became an artificial border between Africa and Asia.
The first attempts to pass the water artery through the sands were carried out in the period of Antiquity. The official opening of the grand engineering structure in 1869 was attended by dignitaries, including the emperor of Austria-Hungary and the wife of Napoleon III.
It has no gateways, and therefore is very easy to operate. In 2015, a second line was built, with a length of 72 km, which provides two-way traffic of ships.
5
White Sea-Baltic Canal. 227 km
The White Sea Canal, as this great building of Russia is called, began to be built during the period of industrialization of the Soviet Union.
Built it in a very short time. Work began in 1931, and the grand opening took place on August 2, 1933. The construction used the labor of prisoners, because of which its construction was not included in the greatest construction sites of the first five-year plans.
The canal became an important transport artery of the Soviet state, connecting the shores of Lake Onega with the White Sea. It consists of many man-made channels. In total, 128 engineering facilities are equipped at it, including 19 locks and 5 hydroelectric power stations.
4
Central German Canal. 325.7 km
The canal complex, which includes the Dortmund-Ems Canal and the Rhine-Herne Canal, connects Reims with the Elbe, Oder and other waterways of Germany.
Majestic bridges and amazing engineering structures, on which ships pass, rise above these rivers. The complex includes the Minden and Magdeburg canals, which are important tourist sites. In addition to large vessels, here you can find pleasure yachts and tourist boats.
The canal is an important attraction of Europe, which is famous for its picturesque views of nature along its both banks.
3
Erie. 843 km
Across the Hudson River, this large canal connected the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean, and it flows through the state of New York. It was built for 7 years and opened for shipping in 1825.
Its construction influenced the economic development of the North American states, and also significantly expanded trade relations and the development of the internal lands of the continent. In the 10 years since the discovery of Erie, the population of New York has doubled.
The canal was repeatedly reconstructed, and today its width is 50 m.
2
Geta channel. 420 km
The first ships that passed through the water engineering structure connecting the Baltic and North Sea passed in 1832. All rights to use are reserved by Sweden.
In the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries, it performed important functions of transporting goods, but today it has lost its original meaning. The need for large ships to pass through it has faded, and today it is used for tourism purposes.
Sailing regattas, as well as boatman competitions, are held there annually. The canal itself is a famous cultural site with 58 locks.
1
Yunho or Yunhe. 1 930 km
The oldest and longest canal, passing through the east of China, began to be built as early as the VI century BC, and completed in 2 millennia.
The Grand Canal connected the South and North of the country, flows through 4 provinces, and connected the two largest rivers of Asia - the Yellow River and the Yangtze. Chinese rivers flow from west to east, flowing into the Pacific Ocean. In ancient times, man-made conduits began to appear, which were used for shipping.
The water level is regulated by a whole system of dams and locks. In the middle of the twentieth century, the canal lost its former significance, but the government is developing a project to revive the country's great man-made water artery. TheBiggest wishes success to the people of China in the revival of this miracle of ancient engineering.
Finally
Canals connect oceans, lakes, rivers and seas, and the longest was built over 2 millennia. Water arteries play an important role in the global economy. For example, the famous Suez Canal provides 7% of the world's sea freight, and for Egypt it is an important source of income that goes to the country's budget.
Posted by Valery Skiba