Without exaggeration, shipping canals can be called one of the most significant inventions in the entire history of mankind. You've probably heard of the Suez or Panama Canals, through which hundreds of ships pass every day. However, in various parts of the world there are more than a dozen of equally large-scale and significant shipping routes, the width of which often does not exceed several meters.
1. Augustow Canal
The Augustow Canal is considered one of the oldest and narrowest shipping canals in the world. In some areas, its width does not exceed 3 meters, and its depth is 2 meters. The Augustow Canal was opened for shipping back in 1839. A large-scale project with a length of 101 kilometers connects two large rivers: the Vistula and the Neman. The channel passes through the territory of two countries: Belarus (22 kilometers) and Poland (79 kilometers).
Until the middle of the 20th century, the canal was mostly used to transport timber from Poland to Belarus and back. After the size of ships began to increase rapidly, cargo ships and barges stopped sailing along the canal. Now the Augustow Canal is included in the UNESCO heritage and is a popular destination for tourists who can move along it by boats and kayaks. The shipping route has several dozen of the most beautiful drawbridges and locks.
2. Geta channel
In picturesque Sweden, the legendary Geta Canal is located, connecting the North and Baltic Seas. Due to its relatively shallow depth (about 3 meters), the channel is currently not very suitable for passage by ocean-going merchant ships, but remains a popular destination for yachts, passenger ships and fishing. The canal is 390 kilometers long and its width ranges from 7 to 14 meters. The Geta Canal is also known for a large number of locks: in total, there are 58 of them.
For the first time, the idea of building a navigable route between the North and Baltic Seas was proposed by the Bishop of Khan Brask back in 1525. An appropriate decree was even issued. Nevertheless, the idea was realized only in 1832, when the first ship passed through the Geta Canal. In total, it took more than twenty years to build a large-scale structure. 60 thousand workers were involved in the construction of the Geta Canal, most of whom were Swedish soldiers.
3. Corinth Canal
Unique in every sense, the Corinth Canal is often included in the list of the most beautiful places on the planet. The channel, 25 meters wide, was carved into a monolithic limestone rock. Thousands of tourists come here every year to watch the spectacle of a giant passenger liner passing between two rocks. The Corinth Canal is considered one of the narrowest on the planet in terms of depth to width. It can be used by vessels with a draft of up to 8 meters from the Aegean to the Ionian Sea, thus reducing the length of the route by 400 kilometers.
The Greeks began to think about the construction of a navigable canal a couple of thousand years ago, but the technological capabilities of that time did not allow it to be done. Attempts were made in the Middle Ages, in the 16th century, but they were also unsuccessful. According to Novate.ru, the official opening of the Corinth Canal took place in 1893. Today, there are three bridges between the two cliffs, which are a popular bungee jumping destination.
4. White Sea-Baltic Canal
The White Sea-Baltic Canal is on the list of attractions in Russia and is a popular route for passenger cruises. The canal connects the White Sea and Lake Onega, effectively opening access to the Baltic Sea. The total length of the navigable canal is 227 kilometers, and the width in the narrowest sections does not exceed 35 meters. The maximum depth of the fairway does not exceed 4 meters, which significantly limits the tonnage of vessels' traffic.
The White Sea-Baltic Canal began operation in 1933 and was created by the forces of the GULAG prisoners. It is noteworthy that, despite its impressive length, it was dug in less than two years. Picturesque landscapes, many significant historical buildings and monuments are located along the canal.
5. Great Channel of China
Literally everyone has heard about the Great Wall of China, but only a small part of travelers knows about the Great Chinese Canal. Despite this, it is the Great Canal that is the oldest artificially created and concurrently the longest (1,782 kilometers) shipping route in the world. The construction of the canal began in the 5th century BC. and finished only in the 13th century A. D. Thus, it took almost two thousand years to build the canal.
The width of the navigable fairway varies from 40 to 350 meters. At present, the Great China Canal is the largest inland waterway of the PRC, connecting major seaports: Shanghai, Tianjin, Beijing and others. Up to 10 million tons of cargo is transported through the canal annually. Due to the shallow depths (2 - 3 meters), the canal is more specialized in inland transportation by small barges and low-tonnage vessels.
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