Schaalseekanal
The Schaalseekanal is an artificial watercourse in Schleswig-Holstein , which connects the area of the Schaalsee with that of the Ratzeburg lake . It serves as a power plant channel for the Farchau hydropower plant .
history
At the beginning of the 20th century there were also efforts in Schleswig-Holstein to use hydropower to generate electricity and thus to promote industrialization . In 1909 , the first planning of a hydropower plant that should use the waters of the Schaalsee area began. However, due to the cost, this project was not carried out. It was only with the defeat of the German Empire in World War I and the associated cession of territories that hydropower became interesting again compared to imported coal. In the spring of 1923 the construction of the Schaalsee Canal was decided by the district council . Construction began in the winter of the same year and was completed in 1925. This artificially changed the watershed between the North and Baltic Seas. The Schaalsee now also drains via the Ratzeburger See, Wakenitz and Trave into the Baltic Sea .
As early as 1588, the city of Lübeck was considering a connection between Schaalsee and Ratzeburger See in connection with the Wallensteingraben as part of a connection from the Elbe to Wismar as a competing canal to the Stecknitz canal .
course
The Schaalseekanal is about 6 km long and runs below ground level for the first 3 km after it emerges from the Salemer See and then for a further 3 km as an embankment. The canal ends at the Farchauer Mühle at the southern end of the Küchensee near Ratzeburg . The difference in altitude reached is 30 m. It has been supplying the Farchau hydropower plant since December 1925 .
tourism
The Schaalseekanal is a popular water hiking trail in the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park due to its connection function between the two largest lakes .
Web links
Coordinates: 53 ° 40 ′ 47 " N , 10 ° 45 ′ 52.7" E