Canal de la Somme
Course outline of the channel
The Canal de la Somme ( German: Somme canal ) is a French Ship Canal, which runs in the Picardie region.
Development and technical infrastructure
The canal follows the course of the river Somme and is the channel type produces a combination of side channel and channeled flow. He begins with Saint -Simon, where he from the Canal de Saint -Quentin ( German: Port of Saint- Quentin ) branches off and ends after 156 kilometers at Saint -Valery -sur -Somme in the English Channel. The height difference to its mouth is 66 meters and is overcome by 25 locks. It is divided into the following areas:
- Section between Saint- Simon and Voyennes
- Section between Voyennes and Peronne
- Section between Peronne and Abbeville
- Section between Abbeville and Saint -Valery -sur -Somme
Coordinates
- Source of the canal: 49 ° 44 ' 38 "N, 3 ° 9' 38 " O49.7438888888893.1605555555556Koordinaten: 49 ° 44 ' 38 "N, 3 ° 9' 38" E
- Endpoint of the channel: 50 ° 10 ' 37 " N, 1 ° 38' 51" O50.1769444444441.6475
By Crossed departments
- Aisne
- Somme
Places on the canal
- Saint -Simon
- Peronne
- Cappy
- Amiens
- Abbeville
- Saint -Valery -sur -Somme
History
The construction work was started already in 1770, but not completed until 1843. The objective was to link the area around Saint -Quentin with the sea.
Economic Importance
Through the connection with the Canal du Nord on the freight traffic reached great importance. In the 1960s, still 300,000 tons were annually in transit across the channel. Since then, the cargo shipping has gradually lost its importance. But slowly it develops tourism use by sports and houseboats.