Ruhrschleuse Duisburg, Navigation lock in Meiderich district, Duisburg, Germany
Ruhrschleuse Duisburg is a navigation lock in the Meiderich district that connects the Rhine-Herne Canal to the Rhine River. It features a single chamber with gates that regulate water levels and allow vessels to move between the two waterways.
The original lock was built in 1914 and played a key role in the water traffic network of the Ruhr region. Its sliding gates were part of a major infrastructure initiative that connected the region's industrial centers.
The lock sits along a route that guides cyclists and walkers through the industrial heritage sites of the Ruhr region. Visitors can trace the area's heavy industry legacy while exploring the surroundings.
Visitors can watch the site during the day as vessels pass through and automated systems operate. Early hours work best, as traffic tends to be lighter and you can follow the lock's function more easily.
Among all locks on the Rhine-Herne Canal, this is the only one with a single chamber, making it structurally unusual. When traffic is heavy, vessels can use the nearby Ruhr Lock as an alternative route.
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