Magdeburg Water Bridge is a crossroads of waterways. Germany. How water bridges work Magdeburg Water Bridge on the map

Surely many have seen photographs of the amazing bridge, which at first glance may seem to be the result of photo manipulation. Ships floating at a height of several meters above the water really cause bewilderment, but this phenomenon itself cannot be called a miracle of modern technology. Few people know, but the Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany is not the only one of its kind.

What happened before the bridge

Until 2003, when this overland canal was built, ships traveling from the Mittelstand Canal to the Elbe-Havel Canal had to go through several stages. The cargo lift, the lock and the rather significant difference between the depth of the Central German Canal and the Elbe River forced the captains to perform a number of complex manipulations related to the delivery of goods. All this required careful preparation and a lot of effort until the Magdeburg Water Bridge was built. The photo clearly shows how easily cargo and transport ships move while located at a height of several meters above the river.

Often heavy ships were not able to navigate the river. In such cases, part of the cargo had to be moved to another transport, and later sent back to the ship. Of course, all this greatly complicated the process and took quite a lot of time. Therefore, engineers had to look for an optimal solution that would simplify the delivery of goods through the Central German Canal.

What is the Magdeburg Water Bridge?

The opening of the structure took place in October 2003, and it immediately attracted the attention of the public. The bridge is an overwater canal with a length of just under a kilometer, 230 meters of which are over the Elbe River. The width is 34 meters and the depth is more than 4. Despite its size, the Magdeburg Water Bridge was built in compliance with all environmental standards, which made it possible to preserve the river ecosystem.

The amazing canal is the largest water feature in Europe. It is equipped with double locks and a ship lift. For convenience, engineers have provided pedestrian and bicycle paths, as well as parking lots. In addition, there is a museum dedicated to the history of the bridge.

Non-unique idea

The creation of a waterway in this place was first thought of at the beginning of the 20th century, at which time the construction of the Central German Canal with a lift in Rothensee began. It was completed only in 1938. Further construction of the bridge was interrupted due to the outbreak of World War II, and continued only in the 1990s.

The Magdeburg Water Bridge is the most famous structure of this type, but not the only one. For more than 300 years, the Du Midi (South) Canal, which is about 240 meters long, has existed and operated in France. It, just like the Magdeburg Water Bridge, allows you to shorten the journey from one destination to another. True, the builders pursued slightly different goals than in Germany.

Back in 1516, Francis I commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to create the shortest route that would allow ships to get from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean without encountering pirates. Construction began only in 1666 under Louis XIV and ended 15 years later. Currently, the Canal Du Midi is operational and even open for excursions.

In addition, in the UK there is a water aqueduct, Pontcysyllte, where you can take a pleasure boat ride. It was built in 1805 and is still in use today.

What else is Magdeburg famous for?

Tourists coming to this part of Europe may be interested not only in the Magdeburg Water Bridge. Magdeburg, Germany, with its famous canal to the north, attracts both those interested in Western culture and those traveling in search of entertainment.

In the very center is the first Gothic cathedral in Germany, the towers of which are visible far beyond the city limits. It is dedicated to Saint Mauritius and Saint Catherine. Inside the cathedral you can see works of art from different eras.

Another attraction of the city is Elbauenpark, which houses the tallest wooden building in Germany (the Jarthausendturm), a pavilion with tropical butterflies, playgrounds and sports grounds, as well as themed gardens. This park will be of interest to both adults and children.

Magdeburg is an important tourist point on the map of Germany and one of the oldest cities in the country. There are many museums, monuments and other attractions that can attract travelers of all ages.

There are many unusual, but much needed structures in the world, and one of them is located in Germany. Unique Magdeburg Water Bridge located north of the city of Magdeburg and crosses the Elbe River. With the help of this structure, water communication is carried out with the industrial region of Germany - the Ruhr.

The system of unusual water structures includes the Rothensee ship lift with a lock, put into operation in 2001, which allows river vessels to descend into the Central German Canal in the western part Magdeburg Water Bridge, and the double Hohenwarte lock for communication with the Elbe-Havel Canal, built in 2003 - in the east of the structure.

diagram of the Magdeburg waterworks

Before opening Magdeburg Water Bridge in October 2003, those traveling from the Central German Canal to the Elbe-Havel were forced to plan their twelve-kilometer route along the Elbe River, passing the Rothensee ship lift and the Nigripp locks.

Such water communication gave captains a number of troubles associated with different water levels between the Central German Canal, where they can sail with a draft of up to 2 meters, and the Elbe River - with a draft of up to 1.5 meters. Of course, a solution was found - part of the cargo from overloaded river ships in the port of Magdeburg was transferred to an additional barge, and then re-shipped to its ship in the Elbe-Havel Canal. But this problem was completely eliminated with the advent of the Magdeburg Water Bridge. The unique water bridge made it possible to solve the problem of river navigation without additional cargo transshipment and without destroying the ecosystem of the Elbe River.

The need to create a waterway was first discussed back in the 20th century. In 1905, construction began on the Central German Canal, which was completed in 1938 with the Rothensee ship lift. Then they began to build a water bridge and locks at Hohenwart. But the several piers and spans built over the canal remained a “frozen construction” with the onset of World War II. After the war, the water bridge project was also not continued due to the political division of Germany into eastern and western parts. And only 60 years later, in 1997, the supports of the water bridge, rising on both sides of the river, were connected, which marked the imminent completion of the construction of this project.

Magdeburg Water Bridge photo

In 2003 Magdeburg water bridge The first ships departed from the inland port of Berlin to ports on the Rhine. I would like to note that this water structure allows river vessels with a length of 85 meters and a draft of up to 2 meters to pass freely.

The construction of the Magdeburg Water Bridge with a total length of 918 meters, a channel width of 34 m, and a depth of 4.25 m required 68,000 cubic meters. m of concrete and 24,000 tons of steel. About 500 million euros were allocated from the country's budget for the creation of a unique structure. And all this is not in vain. Following an analysis in 2010, the capacity of the waterway between the Central German Canal and the Elbe-Havel has doubled, which contributes to a regular increase in freight traffic within the country. Besides Magdeburg Water Bridge became another landmark of Germany. Every year hundreds of tourists visit this country, and lovers

Tourists in Europe can be surprised not only by ancient castles and fortresses, but also by modern engineering architecture, such as, for example, the Magdeburg Bridge in Germany. This is a water crossing over the Elbe River, about 900 meters long, 34 meters wide and about 4 meters deep, operating since 2003. It connects two shipping canals - the Elbe-Hafer and the Central German canal, which run towards the densely populated and industrially congested Ruhr Valley.

From the history of creation...

The merger of channels was conceived long before these plans became reality. The proposal to build a crossing was first made in 1877, and the construction of a node for lifting ships began only in 1919, when it was necessary to restore the country’s national economy, undermined by the First World War.

Preparatory work continued for almost 20 years, and in 1938, when the construction of the Rothensee shiplift and the powerful bulls that were supposed to support the chute were already being completed, construction stopped. At this point the Second World War entered.

In the post-war years, Magdeburg found itself on the territory of the GDR, and the government of the republic did not complete construction of this expensive and labor-intensive structure. Work on the construction of the Magdeburg Water Bridge continued only seven years after the reunification of Germany, from 1997, and lasted six years - until October 2003.

This pleasure cost the Germans approximately 500 million euros; 24 thousand tons of steel structures and 68 thousand cubic meters of concrete were spent on it. Such expenses are justified by reducing the route of cargo and passenger ships from Berlin to Hanover and other Rhine ports by 12 km, which previously made a detour through the Elbe and two locks. After all, earlier in the summer, when the level of the Elbe dropped significantly, barges could not pass along it. This problem has now been resolved.

Most of the structure is laid above land (690m), and only 228m above water. In a year, about 1,300 tons of various cargo can pass through it, which is 50% more than before the crossing.

Why is it worth visiting the Magdeburg Water Bridge?

Isn't it interesting to walk or swim along Europe's largest water crossing? Cargo and pleasure ships, barges and yachts constantly move along the canal, and tourists stroll along the pedestrian part, enjoying the wonderful views.

Pedestrians and cyclists can access the bridge at any time. Nearby there is a parking lot and a museum where you can get acquainted with the history of the construction of this huge water crossing, which has no analogues in any other country.

How to get there:

You can get here from the central part of Magdeburg in an hour and a half of fast walking. But it’s much more pleasant to make this trip on a rented bicycle, which will make the journey much shorter and easier. For lovers of boat trips, routes are organized from Magdeburg and back through the crossing and boat lifts.

An intersection is a completely normal occurrence in everyday life, as far as roads are concerned. But there are also intersections in the world that look unreal, but nevertheless exist. One of these intersections (I can hardly say roads) is in Germany near the town of Magdeburg.
The intersection is not easy. One "road" is above the other. Surprised me too! - you say. And you would be right, if not for one significant but. It is not cars or even steam locomotives with carriages that move along these roads. The roadway is intended for... ships. Yes, it is river vessels that move along the upper and lower “roads”. To make it clearer, look at this photo.

Agree, an interesting spectacle.
The water bridge is located 13 kilometers north of the city of Magdeburg and originates in the town of Hohenwart on the right bank of the Elbe.

Magdeburg Water Bridge on the map

• Geographic coordinates 52.230881, 11.701224
• The distance from the capital of Germany Berlin is about 120 km to the west
• The distance to the nearest airport Braunschweig-Wolfsburg is approximately 80 km

The amazing bridge serves to connect the most important shipping canals in the region - the Elbe-Havel and the Central German.
The idea of ​​creating such an interesting design was dictated by German pragmatism. The industrial area called the Ruhr Valley was in dire need of this crossing. Before this, in order to get from one canal to another, river boats made a 12-kilometer loop. They crossed the Rotensi lock from the Central German Canal, then along the Elbe channel and through the Niegripp lock they entered the Elbe-Havel canal. This was accompanied by a large loss of time required to pass through the locks. Plus, heavily loaded barges had a strong draft, and their navigation along the Elbe was quite difficult. The ships had to be loaded not completely. And this is already a loss of money, which the Germans are good at counting.

The idea of ​​creating a bridge arose in 1919, but then the First World War prevented the plan from being realized. Then, by 1938, the first bridge supports were built. But then the Second World War shook the world, and construction stopped. After the end of the war, Germany was divided into two parts. The construction was forgotten for decades. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany, plans to build an outlandish crossing were again revived.

Construction resumed only in 1997 and ended in 2003. Now the shipping bridge is an important link in the economy of the region. About 500,000 euros, 68 thousand cubic meters of concrete and 24 thousand tons of steel structures were spent on the construction of the Magdeburg Bridge. The result was the largest water bridge in Europe.

Magdeburg Water Bridge in numbers

• The width of the “roadway” is 34 meters
• Depth – 4.25 meters
• The span length reaches 106 meters
• The total length of the bridge is 918 meters, but only 228 meters extend directly over the Elbe, the remaining 690 meters are already above ground

In addition to the water crossing, there are pedestrian paths on the bridge, where hundreds of tourists can watch multi-ton barges rush past.

Magdeburg Water Bridge photo

There are many attractions in the world that deserve special attention. One of these amazing wonders of the world is the Magdeburg Water Bridge. It is literally a river above a river, as it is a water channel rising above the Elbe.

This amazing modern bridge building is located in the German city of Magdeburg. The water bridge connects the Central German Canal with the famous Elbe-Havel Canal. This miracle of engineering has no analogues in the whole world. “River over river” is the best description of the most famous canal bridge in Europe.

The Magdeburg Bridge is literally suspended in the air above the river, with barges and ships moving across it. This unique aqueduct bridge is used only for crossing ships and pedestrians; land transport does not cross it. To see this, just look at the Magdeburg Water Bridge. Photos of this structure amaze with their beauty and majesty.

History of the bridge

The idea of ​​building a bridge began to come to fruition around 1930. The first stage of work was completed and commissioned in 1938. But then the division of Germany did not allow further construction to continue.

After the war, Magdeburg ended up on the territory of the GDR, but its government did not want to complete the construction of this expensive and complex structure. Continuation of construction became possible only after this grandiose bridge was built for six whole years, from June 1997 to October 2003.

Practical purpose of the bridge

This huge bridge over the legendary one is 918 meters long, of which 690 m are on land and 228 m are suspended over water. The depth of the structure is 4.25 m, width is 34 m, and the maximum span is 106 meters. 24,000 tons of steel and 68,000 cubic meters of concrete were spent on its construction.

A colossal amount of money was spent on the implementation of this amazing engineering idea - over 500 million euros. But, as time has shown, the bridge is worth it!

The costs of constructing the crossing are justified by reducing the route of ships from Berlin to Hannover and other heavily loaded Rhine ports by 12 km. Before the construction of the bridge, ships made a long detour across the Elbe, and in the summer, when the water level in the river dropped significantly, all water traffic practically stopped. Now these problems have been resolved. Every year, more than 1,300 tons of various goods are transported across the bridge.

What is attractive about the Magdeburg Bridge?

The river above the river - the famous Magdeburg Bridge - is considered one of the main bridges. It is simply impossible to describe in words its grandeur and grandeur. It is especially amazing to watch ships and barges sail over another river along a canal bridge hanging in the air. After all, in nature you will not find such a phenomenon that one is directly above the other. Every year tens of thousands of tourists come to Magdeburg to admire this wonderful waterway.

Everyone can look at this beauty up close. There are pedestrian and bicycle sidewalks on the bridge especially for tourists. Here you can also visit a small museum, which highlights all the details of the rather long construction of this unique water crossing. Parking for vehicles is provided. The bridge is open 24 hours a day. During the day it is interesting to watch the huge cargo barges and colorful passenger ships. And at night - behind the water surface charmingly shimmering from the moonlight.

Water lovers can take a river cruise aboard the world's only boat lift for small pleasure craft. Boat excursions are held daily, so you can appreciate the beauty of such a structure as a river above the river both from land and from water.

How to get to the bridge?

From the central part of Magdeburg you can walk to the water bridge in about an hour and a half. But in the city center you can rent a bicycle, this will make the journey much easier, and the excursion will be more convenient and interesting. For tourists who prefer boat trips, special routes are organized through the ferry and boat lifts; they depart from the center of Magdeburg and then return.

Magdeburg - attractions

It's not just the famous water bridge that attracts tourists to this German city. Magdeburg also has other attractions. Germany is famous for its rich history and unique architecture. During your stay in this ancient city, you will be able to visit the amazingly beautiful cathedrals of St. Catherine and St. Mauritius, which in ancient times were considered the center of the “Third Rome”.

On the Alter Markt square, right in front of the town hall, there is a copy of the legendary German architectural monument “The Magdeburg Horseman”.

The most popular tourist route is called the “Road of Romance”. Its pearl is the Monastery of the Holy Virgin Mary. Here you will also be shown other charmingly beautiful monasteries, cathedrals and parks.

How to get to Magdeburg?

The easiest and most economical way to get to Magdeburg is to book return plane tickets. It is better to stay in the city center, in one of its many hotels.

Just keep in mind that you will need a Schengen visa, so plan your trip in advance. But what you get to see will certainly make all the trouble worth it. The beauty of the unique architecture of Magdeburg delights and is remembered for a long time.