Meppen lock, Doppelschleuse am Dortmund-Ems-Kanal
The Meppen lock is a water-saving lock on the Dortmund-Ems Canal in the town of Meppen, Germany, designed to move ships between different water levels. It has large gates and a chamber system that safely raises and lowers boats, measuring about 165 meters in length.
The lock was built in the 1950s to support trade and passenger transport in the region. Since then it has been updated several times to work more efficiently and meet changing demands of ship traffic.
The lock carries the name of the town of Meppen and reflects the area's identity as a center of waterway commerce. Visitors can watch ships pass through daily, experiencing how this structure remains central to the region's connection to water transport.
Visitors can reach the lock on foot from the Teglinger Straße area in Meppen and watch boats pass from paths along the canal. The site is open to access, and information boards explain how it works and its history.
The lock uses a special water-storage system where water from the chamber is held in a nearby reservoir and reused later, cutting water use to about 56,000 liters per passage. This efficient design shows how older infrastructure and modern water management come together.
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