Albert Canal

The Albert Canal is a canal located in northeastern Belgium. It connects the major cities Antwerp and Liège and the Meuse and Scheldt rivers. It has a depth of 3.40 m, a free height of 6.70 m and a total length of 129.5 km. The maximum capacity is a barge of 10,000 tons.

Related Topics:
Canal - Belgium - Antwerp - Liège - Meuse - Scheldt - Barge

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The Albert Canal was dug from 1930-1939. It was used for the first time in 1940, but because of World War II the actual exploitation only started in 1946. Between Antwerp and Liège there is a height difference of 56 meter. A total of 6 canal locks were needed to overcome the difference. Five canal locks have a height difference of 10 meter (located in Genk, Diepenbeek, Hasselt, Kwaadmechelen en Olen), de canal lock of Wijnegem has a difference of 5.45 meter.

Related Topics:
World War II - Canal lock - Genk - Diepenbeek - Hasselt - Kwaadmechelen - Olen - Wijnegem

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In the Thirties, it took about 7 days to travel from Antwerp to Liege over water. These days the same distance is covered in 18 hours. Since the completion of the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal in 1992, a barge can now travel from Antwerp all the way across Europe to the Black Sea.

Related Topics:
Rhine-Main-Danube Canal - Europe - Black Sea

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During the Second World War the canal functioned as a defense line. It had to secure not only Belgium but also the northeastern arrondissements of France. The canal locks were used to control the water level.

Related Topics:
Second World War - Arrondissement - France

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