Danube-Oder-Elbe Canal, Planned waterway network in Moravian Gate, Czech Republic
The planned waterway connects three major European rivers through Czech territory, linking the Danube, Oder, and Elbe into one navigable route. The project involved multiple sections with hundreds of kilometers of canal construction and numerous locks to manage water levels.
The concept began in the 14th century when Emperor Charles IV. first imagined linking these rivers as a trade route. Later attempts in the 1940s near Vienna and Upper Silesia got further along, but wars and shifting priorities prevented completion.
The canal represents a shared vision across Central Europe for moving goods and connecting people through a common waterway. It shows how nations saw water transport as a way to strengthen their ties and reduce dependence on other routes.
The region is located in the Moravian Gate, a natural passage in the landscape between Central Europe and its eastern borders. You can walk through the terrain and visit local museums that tell the story of this long-discussed project.
The government officially cancelled the project in August 2023, ending nearly 700 years of planning and hopes. This makes the location a symbol of Europe's grand ambitions that were never built.
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