The Elbląg Canal - navigable waterway on the site Polish, in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in Elbląg district. The channel is sometimes misnamed The Elbląg-Ostróda Canal or Ostróda-Elbląg Canal, was formerly called The Old Prussian Channel, The Oberland Channel and in German it has a name Oberländischer Kanal.
Geographical coordinates of the section of the Canal - Lake Druzno: 54 ° 03'41 "N, 19 ° 29'18" E.
Information
Still operating slipways on the Canal, they are a unique monument of technology having no equivalent in Europe.
In 1978, a fragment of the canal was recognized as a technical monument.
By the regulation of January 14, 2011, the President of the Republic of Poland recognized it as a historical monument.
Due to its natural, cultural and landscape values, the area has been legally protected in the form of the Protected Landscape Area of the Elbląg Canal.
The Elbląg Canal in the plebiscite "The Republic of Poland”In 2007 was recognized as one of the 7 wonders of Poland.
The designer of the Elbląg Canal was a native of KonigsbergGeorg Jakob Steenke (born June 30, 1801 in Królewiec, died April 22, 1884 in Elbląg). His work is extremely original ramps - a unique in the world solution to the problem of overcoming a significant difference in height on the waterway. Built in the years 1848-1860, they allow navigation from the slipways New Shrouds (0.3 m above sea level) to the slipway Buczyniec (99.5 m above sea level).
The first ship crossed the canal on August 31, 1860, it was opened for cargo shipping a year later, on October 28, 1861. The canal was officially put into operation in the spring of 1862.
The Elbląg Canal is the longest navigable canal in Poland. Its length is 84.2 km:
- section Druzno lake - Miłomłyn lock, 52.0 km long
- section Miłomłyn - Iława, 32.2 km long
The total length of the canal with branches is 151.7 km, although you can find data specifying the length of the main waterway at 127.5 km, and the side branches - at 65 km.
The Miłomłyn - Zalewo waterway connected with the Canal is 49.9 km long.
Ships cover a height difference of 99 m.
Lock with the greatest difference in levels - Miłomłyn 2.8 m
Incline with the greatest difference in levels - Oleśnica 24.5 m
A peculiarity on a European scale is the complex of 5 slipways on which ships roll on special platforms set on rails. The rail hoisting devices used for this purpose are mechanically driven by the force of the water flow.
The source of energy enabling the movement of wheeled platforms carrying ships and boats across the sons is the flowing water of the canal, moving the paddle wheels. The movement of the wheels causes the rope that pulls the 2 wheeled platforms to rewind and in the center of the ramp always pass each other transported units. It is an extraordinary impression to see ships gliding along grassy slopes.
Cruise from Elbląg down Ostróda (or vice versa) lasts several hours. You can also take a trip for several hours on the Buczyniec-Elbląg slipway route.
In Buczyniec, it is worth visiting the Museum of the Construction of the Elbląg Canal and see the obelisk from 1872 dedicated to Georg Jakob Steenke, erected during his lifetime (!). The plaque placed here in the 1980s includes the translation of the German inscription into Polish and ... Dutch. The latter version appeared in connection with Steenke's mistake of being of Dutch origin.
Website: www.zegluga.com.pl
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