Neptune's Staircase, Lock staircase in Banavie, Scotland.
Eight consecutive locks on the Caledonian Canal lift boats 64 feet above sea level through a continuous sequence of connected chambers.
Engineer Thomas Telford designed and constructed the lock system between 1807 and 1811 as part of the Caledonian Canal development.
The nickname emerged from workers during construction, referencing Neptune, as the locks control water flow like the Roman god of the sea.
The locks accommodate vessels up to 150 feet long and 35 feet wide, with hydraulic systems replacing the original manual operation since 1968.
The metal gates installed in 1920 weigh 22 tons each, replacing the original oak and steel structures after multiple vessel collisions.
Location: Highland
Location: Kilmallie
Architects: Thomas Telford
Official opening: October 1822
Part of: Caledonian Canal
GPS coordinates: 56.84638,-5.09383
Latest update: May 27, 2025 11:44
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