Kiel Canal
The Kiel Canal is an artificial waterway that connects the North Sea to the Baltic Sea through Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany. The canal stretches for about 100 kilometers and handles heavy maritime traffic daily, with ships passing through in both directions.
The canal opened in 1895 to allow cargo ships to avoid long detours around the Danish peninsula. It has become one of the world's busiest artificial waterways and transformed maritime routes between the North and Baltic Seas.
The canal can be observed from several viewpoints along the banks, especially in the port towns of Kiel and Brunsbüttel. Daytime offers the best opportunity to watch ships, as traffic is heaviest during daylight hours.
The canal was entirely dug by hand and represented a marvel of 19th-century engineering when completed. Visitors can still watch ships navigate through the relatively narrow waterway today, which remains an impressive feat of maritime coordination.
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