Old bridge of Wasserstraßenkreuz Minden, Navigable aqueduct in Minden, Germany
The Wasserstraßenkreuz Minden is a concrete aqueduct that carries the Mittelland Canal across the Weser River and spans roughly 370 meters in length. The structure uses eight arches to cross the river and allows ships to navigate on both waterways without interruption.
The structure was completed in 1914 as a solution to connect two major waterways without blocking traffic. After destruction during World War II, it was rebuilt in 1949 using reinforced concrete.
The crossing represents a turning point in how Germans connected their waterways and changed navigation across the country. Visitors here see how this solution shaped water transport and remains integral to how the region's shipping routes operate today.
The structure is visible from several viewpoints along the riverbanks and offers clear views of how it is built. To see it working, arrive when boats are using the crossing, especially during daytime hours when traffic is active.
This is one of the few places in Germany where a federal waterway runs completely above another one. This arrangement required a completely novel engineering approach in 1914 that most people at the time considered impossible.
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