Schleuse Friedrichsfeld, River lock in Voerde, Germany.
Friedrichsfeld Lock is a two-chamber lock on the Wesel-Datteln Canal that manages water traffic between different levels. The larger chamber spans approximately 220 meters in length and 12 meters in width, while the smaller chamber was designed for vessels that do not need the full capacity.
The lock opened to traffic in 1930 with its main chamber as the sole passage for vessels. A second, smaller chamber was added in 1964 to handle the growing volume of inland shipping.
This engineering structure represents German maritime infrastructure development, enabling steady water transportation between the Rhine River and inland waterways.
You can watch from the embankment paths as vessels move through the lock and water levels rise and fall. The best time to observe activity is during daylight hours when inland shipping is most regular.
The facility includes a pump system that moves water from the lower chamber back to the upper level, compensating for water loss during operations. This engineering solution keeps water levels stable despite the constant movement of vessels through the lock.
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