Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Canal Dunkerque Escaut

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Maximum boat length
  
143 m (469 ft)

Locks
  
14

Maximum boat beam
  
11 m (36 ft)

Canal Dunkerque-Escaut

Length
  
187 km (116 mi) Dunkirk to Belgium via Valenciennes

The Canal Dunkerque-Escaut is a 189 km series of large canals from Dunkerque to Mortagne-du-Nord. The route is also known as the liaison, La Liaison au Grand Gabarit, Canal au Grand Gabarit, Dunkerque-Escaut Waterway and Liaison Dunkerque-Escaut.

The Grand Gabarit (English: Large Gauge) canal route was created after the Second World War to accommodate very large commercial vessels - up to 143m long by 11m wide. This includes push-tows and side-by-side configurations. Existing canals were straightened and widened; and locks (ecluses) were enlarged.

The route

Different references have it as different lengths depending on beginning and ending points. All agree on the beginning as Dunkerque:

  • Ending in Doornik Belgium is 202 km (126 mi) with 14 locks
  • Ending at Belgium border is 187 km (116 mi) with 14 locks
  • Ending at Mortagne-du-Nord 189 km (117 mi) with 14 locks

    • The route includes, starting in Dunkerque:

  • Canal de Bourbourg from Dunkerque to 50.88869°N 2.24696°E / 50.88869; 2.24696 between Lynck and Pont l'Abbesse
  • Canal de la Colme from 50.88869°N 2.24696°E / 50.88869; 2.24696 to Watten
  • River Aa from Watten to Arques
  • Canal de Neufossé from Arques to Aire-sur-la-Lys
  • Canal d'Aire from Aire-sur-la-Lys to Bauvin
  • Canal de la Deûle from Bauvin to Douai
  • Canal de la Sensée from Douai to Bassin Rond
  • River Scheldt from Bassin Rond via Valenciennes to Belgium

    • References

    Canal Dunkerque-Escaut Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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