Dortmund–Ems Canal

Dortmund–Ems Canal
Dortmund-Ems canal in Münster
The Dortmund-Ems canal in winter

The Dortmund–Ems Canal is a 269 km long canal in Germany between the inland port of the city of Dortmund (51°31′30″N 7°26′40″E / 51.525°N 7.44444°E / 51.525; 7.44444) and the sea port of Emden. The artificial southern part of the canal ends after 215 km at the lock of Herbrum near Meppen. From there, the route goes over a length of 45 km over the river Ems until the lock of Oldersum. There, the canal continues with a further artificial part of 9 km. This was made because the types of ships at the time of the construction of the canal were not built for open sea, at the Dollart and the entry to the sea port of Emden. This part of the canal is connected to the Ems-Jade Canal from Emden to Wilhelmshaven.

The canal was opened in 1899. The reason for the construction of the canal was to lighten the load on the railways, which could not transport the products of the Ruhr area. Also, the canal was supposed to make the coal from the Ruhr area more competitive, compared to the imported English coal. Furthermore, the steel industry in the eastern Ruhr area needed ores from abroad.

The canal was attacked numerous times during World War II due to its strategic importance. An attack in September 1943 by 617 Squadron RAF (the "Dambusters") was unsuccessful and costly. The squadron attacked it again in September 1944 using Tallboy "earthquake" bombs breaching it and causing considerable damage. It was repaired after the conflict.

The best known building of the Dortmund-Ems canal is the Henrichenburg boat lift in Waltrop, which enabled a ship to bridge a difference in height of 14 metres. It operated until 1962, and was then replaced by a new elevator and a lock. Today it houses the Westfälisches Industriemuseum.

Some kilometres to the north, the canal reaches the city of Datteln, that lies on a crossroads of four canals:

The old route of the canal crosses the rivers Lippe, Stever and Ems on bridges. These bridges are built with large arches, and the bridge over the Lippe lies 15 metres above the river.

After the second world war, the canal had to be widened. The parts of the canal that were elevated above ground level could not easily be widened, and therefore a new route was constructed between Olfen und Münster. These parts of the canal lie parallel to the old route, and new river crossings were also built. The old route was closed for shipping.

At the moment, the canal is being widened again. This is done without closing the canal for shipping.

Towns along the canal

Dortmund - Waltrop - Datteln - Olfen - Lüdinghausen - Senden - Hiltrup - Münster - Dörenthe - Hörstel - Bevergern - Rheine - Hesselte - Lingen - Geeste - Meppen - Haren - Papenburg - Düthe - Heede - Lehe - Aschendorf - Oldersum - Emden -

Coordinates: 52°16′55″N 7°32′31″E / 52.28194°N 7.54194°E / 52.28194; 7.54194


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Dortmund-Ems Canal — The Dortmund Ems Canal is a 269 km long canal in Germany between the river port of the city of Dortmund and Emden. The artificial southern part of the canal ends after 215 km at the lock of Herbrum near Meppen. From there, the route goes over a… …   Wikipedia

  • Dortmund-Ems Canal — ▪ canal, Germany German  Dortmund Ems Kanal        important commercial canal (canals and inland waterways) in western Germany linking the Ruhr industrial area with the North Sea near Emden. The canal was opened in 1899 and is about 269 km (167… …   Universalium

  • Dortmund — skyline …   Wikipedia

  • Dortmund Port — Construction on Dortmund s port which terminates the Dortmund Ems Canal connecting Dortmund to the North Sea started in 1895. It was opened 1899 by Kaiser Wilhelm. At the beginning of the 20th century it was mainly used for the import and export… …   Wikipedia

  • Dortmund — /dawrt meuhnd/; Ger. /dawrddt moont /, n. a city in W Germany. 583,600. * * * ancient Throtmannia City (pop., 2002 est.: 589,200), North Rhine–Westphalia, western Germany. First mentioned in AD 885, it became a free imperial city in 1220 and… …   Universalium

  • Ems River — River, northwestern Germany. It rises on the southern slope of the Teutoburg Forest and flows generally northwest and north through the states of North Rhine–Westphalia and Lower Saxony for 230 mi (371 km) to the North Sea. Its mouth is a wide… …   Universalium

  • Dortmund — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Dortmund Bandera …   Wikipedia Español

  • Dortmund — Dortmund …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Dortmund — es una ciudad de Renania del Norte Westfalia, es la séptima más grande de Alemania está situada en la región del Ruhr. Tiene 587.272 habitantes (31.8.2004). Área: 280,3 km². Limita: al N,E y SE con Unna (distrito) (al N con el pueblo de Lünen, al …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Dortmund — ville d Allemagne (Rhénanie du Nord Westphalie), sur le canal de Dortmund Ems; 568 160 hab. Grand centre industriel. Anc. ville hanséatique …   Encyclopédie Universelle

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”