The Masurian Canal is a 50 km long canal from the early 20th century that connects the Great Masurian Lakes with the Fresh lagoon in the northeast Poland in the voivodeship Warmia-Masuria as in Russia in the oblast Kaliningrad connects via numerous lakes and locks. The channel starts on Mauersee and leads through the historical landscape Masurian. The canal was never completed and opened to shipping.
Run
The canal flows through the Masurian Lake District from Przystań to the northwest. It leads north to Hitler's Fuehrer's headquarters in Wolfsschanze past where he was assassinated in 1944. Except for one lock, the other canal locks were never functional. Bridges and other facilities on the canal were blown up by the retreating Wehrmacht towards the end of the war. The canal is therefore not dedicated as a waterway and has been growing over the past three quarters of a century. Nevertheless, it can be navigated with kayaks or canoes. However, you have to carry the boats up or down at the locks to the next barrage yourself. As a rule, crossing the border into Russia is not permitted.
