The Incredible Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany

[Donna]

The Magdeburg Water Bridge is a navigable aqueduct in Germany that connects the Elbe-Havel Canal to the Mittelland Canal, and allows ships to cross over the Elbe River. At 918 meters, it is the longest navigable aqueduct in the world.

The Elbe-Havel and Mittelland canals had previously met near Magdeburg but on opposite sides of the Elbe. Ships moving between the two had to make a 12-kilometer detour, descending from the Mittelland Canal through the Rothensee boat lift into the Elbe, then sailing downstream on the river, before entering the Elbe-Havel Canal through Niegripp lock. Low water levels in the Elbe often prevented fully laden canal barges from making this crossing, requiring time-consuming off-loading of cargo.

http://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/04/incredible-magdeburg-water-bridge-in.html This is incredible!!! Pics

[MAK]

  So cool!   

[valhalla]

Aqueducts have been used for centuries - think the Romans in Great Britain.  Many of our (long vanished) canals also had aqueducts.  A big chunk of NJ connected the ICW to Delaware Bay via canals and aqueducts to provide an "inside" passage.  Very Cool!