Staustufe Fankel, Lock and barrage complex in Bruttig-Fankel, Germany
Staustufe Fankel is a lock and barrage complex on the Moselle River with two large lock chambers for motor vessels, a boat lift, and a fish passage facility. The hydroelectric power station uses tube turbines to generate electricity while the barrage component regulates water flow along the river.
Built in 1964 as part of the Moselle canalization project, it modernized river shipping infrastructure at this location. The project combined navigation improvements with hydroelectric generation for the first time in this river section.
The control center here manages water levels and power generation across all barrages on the Moselle and Saar rivers, supporting the regional transportation network. This operation is woven into daily life for people in the area who depend on inland waterway shipping.
The facility can be viewed from the riverside with good vantage points to watch lock operations from the shore. Access is free, though visitors should note that operations vary depending on shipping traffic and safety regulations must be respected at all times.
The facility passes motor vessels up to 135 meters long or push convoys reaching 172 meters. This size enables visitors to observe the active shipping traffic that makes this river section one of Europe's busiest inland waterways from up close.
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