Stecknitz Canal

The Stecknitz Canal connects the Stecknitz and Delvenau rivers, creating a navigable waterway between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea across northern Germany.

Constructed between 1391 and 1398, this waterway served as the primary route for transporting Lüneburg salt, with thirty barges delivering the first cargo in July 1398.

The Stecknitzfahrer guild of bargemen maintains their traditions through annual gatherings, preserving the memory of canal navigation methods and maritime practices.

The canal system extended 97 kilometers and included seventeen locks, allowing vessels to navigate a height difference of 17 meters above sea level.

The Palmschleuse lock in Lauenburg remains as the single preserved structure from the original Stecknitz Canal, displaying medieval engineering techniques.

GPS coordinates: 53.65000,10.65000

Latest update: March 2, 2025 23:10