Teltow Canal

The Teltow Canal, also known as the Teltowkanal  in German, is a canal to the south of Berlin, the capital city of Germany. The canal lies in both the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, and at points forms the boundary between the two. It takes its name from the Brandeburgian region of Teltow and town of Teltow which lie on its course.[1] The canal was constructed between 1900 and 1906, when it was opened by Wilhelm II.[2]

Teltow Canal
The canal near Kleinmachnow lock
Specifications
Length	37.83 km (23.51 miles)
Minimum boat draft	1.75 metres (5.7 ft)
Minimum boat air draft	4.4 metres (14 ft)
History
Construction began	1900
Date completed	1906
Geography
Start point	River Havel
End point	River Dahme

Map of waterways in the Berlin region, with the Teltow Canal slightly below the centre

Rail and motorway bridges over the canal

The canal is 37.83 kilometres (23.51 mi) in length and links the River Havel near the city of Potsdam with the River Dahme near Köpenick in Berlin's eastern suburbs. The Dahme provides a link to the Oder-Spree Canal, and hence to the River Oder and Poland. Whilst the Dahme is a tributary of the River Spree, itself a navigable tributary of the Havel, the Teltow Canal offers the advantage of bypassing the centre of Berlin, with its heavy river traffic.[1]

At its western end, the Teltow Canal incorporates the Griebnitzsee lake which links to the Havel in Potsdam. The Griebnitz Canal provides a second link to the Havel from the eastern end of the Griebnitzsee. Towards its eastern end, the Teltow Canal is linked to the Landwehr Canal by the Neukölln Ship Canal, while the Britz Canal connects the Teltow Canal with the Spree.[1]

There is only one lock on the canal, at Kleinmachnow. The canal is navigable by boats with a draught of up to 1.75 metres (5 ft 9 in) and with a maximum bridge clearance of 4.4 metres (14 ft).[1]

References

1. Sheffield, Barry (1995). Inland Waterways of Germany. St Ives: Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson. p. 118. ISBN 0-85288-283-1.
2. Köhler, Horst (May 2000). "Der Teltowkanal - Vom Wunsch zur Idee". Berlinische Monatsschrift (in German). Luisenstädtischer Bildungsverein.

External links

Media related to Teltowkanal, Bäke at Wikimedia Commons