Canal de Saint-Quentin

Course outline of the channel

The Canal de Saint -Quentin ( German: Port of Saint- Quentin ) is a French Ship Canal, which runs in the regions of Nord-Pas -de- Calais and Picardy.

Geography

The canal connects the Rivers Scheldt and Oise, and is part of an inland waterway, connecting Belgium with North West France and the greater Paris area. This route consists of the following waterways:

  • Scheldt - as channeled flow
  • Canal de Saint- Quentin
  • Lateral Canal à l' Oise
  • Oise - as channeled flow
  • His - as channeled flow

Development and technical infrastructure

The Canal de Saint -Quentin starts at Cambrai, where he has connection to the canalised Scheldt. In Saint -Simon he has connection to the Canal de la Somme ( German: Somme canal ) on the shipping has been set in this area, however. In Tergnier there is a connection with the Canal de la Sambre à l' Oise ( German: Sambre -Oise Canal). In Chauny the channel finally ends after a total length of 92 kilometers in the Lateral Canal à l' Oise ( German: Oise - side channel ).

It is a channel of the type watersheds channel whose summit level will is overcome by two tunnels:

  • Tunnel of Riqueval (length 5.67 km )
  • Tunnel Tronquoy (length 1.09 km )

The height difference from its confluence with the river Scheldt is 38 meters and is offset by 17 locks that the Oise Valley is 43 meters and requires 18 locks. The water supply to the vertex distance long supply channels were built. Direction of Cambrai The canal runs parallel to the river Scheldt, is removed from the water. In the opposite direction first ensures the Somme, Oise later for the water supply.

Tunnel of Riqueval

Because of its length the tunnel of Riqueval of vessels or recreational craft may not be driving alone. Therefore, twice daily service a chain tug through the tunnel and pulls the ships behind him. This towing vessel used for movement, a chain, which is laid on the bottom of the channel and extending over the deck of the ship. Here it is passed over rollers, which are driven by an electric motor. In this way, the ship reaches a speed of about 2.8 km / h The passage through the tunnel thus takes about 2 hours. On the ceiling of the tunnel, a double-pole overhead line for the power supply is attached, the 200 meters will be continued at both ends of the tunnel yet, so that the chain tugs can be supplied with the required electrical energy.

Coordinates

  • Source of the canal: 50 ° 10 ' 36 "N, 3 ° 13' 19" O50.1766666666673.2219444444444Koordinaten: 50 ° 10 ' 36 "N, 3 ° 13' 19" E
  • Endpoint of the channel: 49 ° 36 ' 25 "N, 3 ° 13' 22" O49.6069444444443.2227777777778

By Crossed departments

  • North
  • Aisne

Places on the canal

  • Cambrai
  • Marcoing
  • Masnières
  • Honnecourt -sur -Escaut
  • Saint- Quentin
  • Gauchy
  • Saint -Simon
  • Tergnier
  • Chauny

History

Construction began in 1728. As a financier Antoine Crozat of the first thirteen kilometers occurred, so the channel sooner was also named Canal de Crozat. The section of Saint- Quentin - Chauny was completed in 1776, opened the entire route 1810.

In a first Bauanlauf for the piece between Vendhuile and Tronquoy a 13.7 km long tunnel from the south was begun, the construction had to be stopped nearing completion. The incision along with spilled portal can be seen on a fenced area at the intersection D71/D718 northwest of Lesdins today. The north portal should be in the southeast area of the town Vendhuile. There can be seen to the original track alignment of the channel on the planned north portal. In some places you can still see access shafts, which were intended for ventilation of the tunnel. Later, two tunnels were built in the summit level, which are separated by an open channel section: the tunnel of Riqueval ( 5.670 km ) and the tunnel Tronquoy ( 1.098 km ).

The tunnel of Riqueval was in front during the First World War ( Hindenburg Line ) and was long held by German forces until it could be pictures more of the Americans. Became famous in this context, taking the Riquevalbrücke September 29, 1918 (see Battle of Saint- Quentin Canal ). This is now precisely over the tunnel north of Bellicourt on the D1044 (formerly N44bis ) a memorial, which was built by Americans.

Economic Importance

Cargo shipping has gradually lost its importance. Cargo ship takes on this route connecting the Canal du Nord - Großschifffahrtsweg Dunkirk -Scheldt why the canal of Saint- Quentin has a rather weak traffic.

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