Crossed Locks in Emden, Navigation lock system in Emden, Germany
The Crossed Locks is a navigation facility with four water chambers arranged in a cross pattern that allows boats to transfer between different canal levels. The system connects the Ems-Jade Canal with the Fehntjer Tief through a controlled water adjustment mechanism.
The lock system was built during the industrial expansion of Lower Saxony's waterways and has supported maritime traffic since its construction. Its development was part of a broader effort to improve canal networks and support regional trade.
The lock system shows how the city manages boat traffic by directing vessels through carefully planned water channels. The design allows ships to move between different waterways that would otherwise be separated by natural height differences.
Visitors can watch the locks operate as boats pass through the different chambers to change water levels. The best time to observe the system is during daytime hours when vessel traffic is most active.
The system allows boats to change direction by 90 degrees while simultaneously adjusting to different water levels. This dual function is rare in other lock systems and makes the facility technically noteworthy.
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