Experience a transit along the Kiel Canal! 97 kilometers long, 12 metres deep and 164 metres wide, the Kiel Canal runs between the Baltic and the North Sea. A number of small ferries run from each side of the canal to the other along the route. These are free of charge and ran by the Canal Authority. ************* HISTORY ************* The original Eider Canal, was built in 1784 and went from Holtenau on the Kiel fjord to Rendsburg. Construction of a larger and wider canal started in June 1887, when the foundation stone was laid by Kaiser Wilhelm I. It took 9000 workers 8 years to build, but in June 1895, the canal was officially opened by Kaiser Wilhelm II for transiting from Brunsbuttel to Holtenau. When the canal first opened, it was name the Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal. The name later changed to the Kiel Canal in 1948. ************************* KIEL & HOLTENAU ************************* Kiel was Germany's chief naval base from 1871 to 1945. Kiel is now home to shipping and engineering. There are large shipyards as well as factories producing textiles, metal products and printed materials. Kiel is the largest and most important city in Schleswig-Holstein. Holtenau is a small town on the Kiel fjord. Here is where the lock gates are and the start of the Kiel Canal. The first bridges we pass under are straight after we leave the locks. The Holtenau High Bridges are two parallel bridges with three car lanes each as well as pavements for pedestrians and cyclists. Further along the canal is the Levensau Motorway Bridge. Immediately after is the oldest bridge along the Canal, Levensau High Bridge. This is a high level arched bridge that transports the local railway line from Flensburg to Kiel. The current bridge will have to be torn down in years to come, when the expansion on the canal in the area takes place. This replacement is estimated to cost 42 million Euros. The next bridge on the Kiel Canal is the Rade High Bridge. This is for the Autobahn A7. Approaching Rendsburg, a four-lane tunnel passes under the Canal. ***************** RENSBURG ***************** One of the most unique bridges in Rensburg and the entire Kiel Canal is the Rendsburg High Bridge. Similar in design to the Tees Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough, the bridge has a gondola, supported on wires hanging down from the bridge, transporting it from one side of the bank to the other. The bridge also carries a train line. Due to the height of the bridge and the close proximity of the station to the bridge, an ascending viaduct, known as the 'Rendsburg Loop', was built spiraling over the city, which crosses over itself before running onto the main span over the water. 4 other bridges cross the Canal before arriving into Brunsbuttel where the lock leading into the North Sea is situated. ******************** BRUNSBUTTEL ******************** The Brunsbuttel locks are 305 metres in length and 46 metres wide. Around 100 ships a week stop at Brunsbuttel docks to take on fuel, water and various supplies.

• published: 11 Jan 2014
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