Orange Canal
The Oranjekanal ( Dutch Oranjekanaal ) is a canal in the Dutch province of Drenthe . It runs from the Drentsche Hoofdvaart near Hoogersmilde to the Van Echterenkanal near Klazienaveen . The Orange Canal has a length of 48 km. The canal was built between 1853 and 1861 to develop the moorland west of Odoorn and the Bargervenen east of Emmen . The canal runs along the villages of Oranje , Hijken , Orvelte , Wezuperbrug , Schoonoord , 't Haantje , Westenesch and Emmen.
The height difference between the two end points of the Oranje Canal is seven meters. This difference in height was overcome with the help of four locks . Three of these locks still exist today:
- Lock 1 ( Oranjeschleuse ) at Hoogersmilde
- Lock 2 at Zwiggelte
- Lock 3 at Orvelte
(Lock 4) near Westenesch has fallen into disrepair
The Orange Canal has two branches , the Borgerzijtak and the Odoornerzijtak . These were created to enable a connection with the Buinen-Schoonoord Canal and the Weerdingerkanal . However, the side arms were never irrigated and opened to traffic, as it was feared that the canal would empty into the area east of the Hondsrug . To prevent this, much too expensive locks would have had to be built.
The shipping traffic on the Orange Canal always fell short of expectations. After the Second World War , the canal became the property of the Dutch state, from which it was handed over to the province of Drente a short time later.
Since 1976 there has been no more commercial shipping on the Oranje Canal.
