Amsterdam–Rhine Canal

The Amsterdam - Rhine Canal (Dutch: Amsterdam - Rhine canal ) was opened on 21 May 1952. He is an artificial waterway created as a connection between the Waal, the largest branch of the Rhine, at the mouth of the river and the port of Amsterdam. He has three locks. The channel leads past Utrecht and Nieuwegein and reaches the Waal near Tiel. The waterway is the shortest shipping route between the Dutch capital and the Ruhr. The Amsterdam - Rhine Canal has a length of 72 km.

History

Since the 1892 was put into operation Merwede Canal no longer met the requirements of shipping, the longer, deeper and broader Amsterdam - Rhine Canal was planned. The Merwede Canal was already a replacement for the Keulse Vaart, which ran on the Vecht. 1931 was decided by the law of the construction. The Second World War, the project was delayed, and so the canal was opened in 1952. The northern part of the Merwede Canal between Utrecht and Amsterdam formed a part of the new channel, the distance between Utrecht, Wijk bij Duurstede and Tiel was created. Between Jutphaas and Vreeswijk was built as an offshoot of Lekkanal. The Merwede Canal south of Utrecht was not changed.

In the years 1965 to 1981, the Amsterdam - Rhine Canal was widened and deepened and released for the push boat ride with four barges to 3.90 meters draft. It meets the waterway class VIb. All bridges have a clearance height of 9.05 m above NAP channel levels 0, 40 m

The canal runs from south to north, and flows well and the water entering at Wijk at Duurstede about the Princess Irene lock and the Prinses Beatrix Lekkanal through the lock into the channel. It is used to flush the channel and regulate the water level.

With the sea locks in IJmuiden, entering through the sea water is flushed. At very high Rhine water level is also flushed into the sea marker, the IJ then acts as a water reservoir, when at high tide can not be flushed into the North Sea.

Between IJburg and the Amsterdam - Rhine Canal is located in Amsterdam Oost the largest natural and city park of Amsterdam, which Diemerpark.

Connections to other waters

From north to south the channel with the Ij Diem, the Muidertrekvaart, Gaasp, Vecht, Merwede Canal, Leidse Rijn, Lek and the Waal is connected. A total of 32 bridges, seven railway bridges and three highway bridges that cross the canal in Amsterdam, the Piet Hein tunnel crosses under the channel.

Smuggle

Princess Marijke - lock at Ravenswaaij

This complex has two lock chambers, each 260 meters long and 18 meters wide. In addition to the locks is a dam with 80 meters width. The locks are only in operation when the dam is closed due to high water level of the Lek.

Princess Irene lock at Wijk at Duurstede

This lock system has two locks. A lock with 260 x 24 meters is suitable for push boat ride with four barges. The second lock has the dimensions of 350 x 18 meters.

Prince Bernhard - lock at Tiel

The Prince Bernhard locks have the same dimensions as the Princess Irene locks.

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