Fontinettes boat lift, Hydraulic boat lift in Arques, France.
The Fontinettes boat lift consists of two massive caissons weighing 792 tonnes each, connected to hydraulic pistons for vertical transportation of vessels.
Built between 1885 and 1888, this lift replaced a system of five locks on the Canal de Neufossé, reducing vessel transit time from 90 to 5 minutes.
The structure represents French industrial engineering excellence, designed by Edwin Clark and M. Bertin with metal supplied by Société des anciens établissements Cail.
While closed for individual visits until spring 2025, groups can schedule reservations to tour the facility, including the repair shop and towpath.
The lift operates through a balanced system where adding 64 tonnes of water to the upper caisson enables the exchange of positions between the two chambers.
Location: Arques
Address: rue de l'Ascenseur à Bateaux
Phone: +33781470892
Website: https://ascenseurabateaux.com
GPS coordinates: 50.73171,2.30355
Latest update: November 28, 2025 16:30
Navigation locks are engineering structures that enable ships to pass through significant elevation changes between seas, lakes, and rivers. From the Panama Canal, where vessels rise 86 feet (26 meters) to cross the Isthmus, to the Three Gorges Dam in China, featuring five-stage locks managing a 371-foot (113-meter) height difference on the Yangtze River, these technical facilities have transformed global trade routes. The Soo Locks in the United States connect the Great Lakes, while the Kiel Canal in Germany links the North Sea to the Baltic Sea. Some structures, such as the Itaipu Dam between Brazil and Paraguay, combine navigation and hydroelectric power generation with a capacity of 14,000 megawatts. Others stand out with their innovative technical solutions: the boat lift in Peterborough, Canada, has used a hydraulic system since 1904, while the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland employs a rotating mechanism to lift 24 meters (79 feet). These facilities play a crucial role in international commerce and economic growth of the regions they serve.
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