Canal lock Kiel Holtenau, Canal lock system in Kiel, Germany
The Kiel-Holtenau lock operates at the entrance of the Kiel Canal, managing water levels between the North Sea and Baltic Sea levels.
The lock construction began in 1887 with Wilhelm I laying the first stone, and William II completed the project in 1895 as part of the Kiel Canal.
The Waterways and Shipping Authority supervises the lock operations, representing a crucial element of German maritime infrastructure and engineering excellence.
The facility remains accessible through bus line 91, with regular maritime traffic passing through the lock chambers throughout operating hours.
The lock system processes approximately 30,000 vessels annually, making it an integral part of the most frequented artificial maritime route worldwide.
Location: Kiel
Part of: Kiel Canal
GPS coordinates: 54.36811,10.14103
Latest update: March 4, 2025 22:20
Navigation locks are engineering structures that enable ships to pass through significant elevation changes between seas, lakes, and rivers. From the Panama Canal, where vessels rise 86 feet (26 meters) to cross the Isthmus, to the Three Gorges Dam in China, featuring five-stage locks managing a 371-foot (113-meter) height difference on the Yangtze River, these technical facilities have transformed global trade routes. The Soo Locks in the United States connect the Great Lakes, while the Kiel Canal in Germany links the North Sea to the Baltic Sea. Some structures, such as the Itaipu Dam between Brazil and Paraguay, combine navigation and hydroelectric power generation with a capacity of 14,000 megawatts. Others stand out with their innovative technical solutions: the boat lift in Peterborough, Canada, has used a hydraulic system since 1904, while the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland employs a rotating mechanism to lift 24 meters (79 feet). These facilities play a crucial role in international commerce and economic growth of the regions they serve.
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Herrenhaus Gut Stift
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Seebad Düsternbrook
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Gasspaltanlage Wik
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