Kiel Canal

The Kiel Canal (German: Nord-Ostsee-Kanal, formerly Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal) is a 98-kilometer-long (61 mi) canal that connects the North Sea to the Baltic Sea. It passes through the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, starting at Brunsbüttel near the mouth of the Elbe and ending at Holtenau on the Kiel Fjord. Construction of the canal took place between 1887 and 1895, and it was later widened between 1907 and 1914. Near Oldenbüttel, the canal also links to the navigable River Eider through the short Gieselau Canal.

The Kiel Canal makes travel between the North and Baltic Seas much shorter. Ships can avoid going around the Jutland peninsula and through the Danish Straits. It is one of the busiest canals in the world, with many ships passing through each year. These ships carry lots of goods, showing how important the canal is for trade and travel.

History

The first way to connect the North Sea and the Baltic Sea was built when the area was ruled by Denmark–Norway. This was called the Eider Canal and used parts of the Eider River. It was finished in 1784 and was only wide and shallow enough for small boats.

Later, after the Second Schleswig War, Prussia wanted a new canal. In June 1887, building began near Kiel. It took eight years to complete. In 1895, Kaiser Wilhelm II opened it, naming it the Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal. The canal was later made wider to let bigger ships pass through.

After World War I, rules changed so that all peaceful nations could use the canal. It was closed for a short time in 2013 when some locks broke, but it was fixed. Recently, more work has been done to make the canal even wider and deeper for modern ships.

Operation

The Kiel Canal has special rules for ships to keep things safe. Big ships need help from pilots or tugboats and must stop to let other ships pass. There are also rules for smaller boats.

All the bridges over the canal are tall enough for ships to pass safely. Only ships of certain sizes are allowed, with limits on how long, wide, and deep they can be. One ship, the Ever Leader, was one of the biggest to use the canal so far.

!View west-southwest from the aft lounge of the cruise ship Norwegian Dream

Crossings

The Kiel Canal has many places where roads, railways, and paths cross over it. There are eleven special bridges that let ships pass through with enough space above. The oldest bridge still used is the Levensau High Bridge, finished in 1894, though it will be replaced soon.

Traffic moves across the canal in many ways. Besides the bridges, there are also 14 ferry lines to help people cross. One special ferry hangs under the Rendsburg High Bridge. After a problem in 2016, this ferry started working again in 2022. All ferries are free to use and are managed by the Canal Authority.