Niederfinow Boat Lift, Boat lift in Niederfinow, Germany
Niederfinow Boat Lift is a large technical structure on the Oder-Havel Canal, designed to raise or lower vessels by 36 meters. The facility consists of a steel trough suspended between four tall towers that move vertically along guide rails on each side of the canal.
Construction of the facility began in the early 1930s and concluded with its opening in March 1934 as a response to growing vessel traffic between Berlin and Stettin. The new structure replaced four older locks from 1914 that could no longer meet increased demands.
This mechanical facility draws 500,000 visitors annually to witness the technical operation of lifting boats through synchronized motors and balanced steel cables.
Visitors can watch the facility from several viewing platforms while vessels are raised or lowered inside the steel trough. The entire lifting process takes about five minutes and is best observed from the upper platforms.
The structure is built from 14,000 tonnes of riveted steel and operates with 256 steel cables balanced by 192 counterweights. A newer lift was constructed directly beside the old one and now functions as a more modern alternative.
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