DESCRIPTION

kanal elblaskiAmong the many attractions of our region, beautiful and picturesque areas, a special place occupies a branched navigation system of the Elbląg Canal, the most interesting in technical terms. The total length of the entire water system is 151.7 km. This unique waterway in the world consists of three main sections with a total length of 115.6 km and many side branches. Milomlyn is the starting point from which the kilometer of the main routes counts. From here, we can reach Jeziorak, the longest lake in Poland and Iława, or locks on the j. Drwęckie, to Ostróda and further to j. Szeląg Wielki. The longest section will lead us through sliways to Elbląg and further to the Żuławy Loop and the Vistula Lagoon, or even further, to the waters of Gdansk.

The canal was designed by engineer George Jakob Steenke in 1837 and built in 1844-1876. The biggest technical problem was overcoming a 99-meter difference in water level between the Druzno and Piniewo lakes. Steenke has developed an extremely original concept that is still in its unchanged form, surprising the craft of 19th-century engineering knowledge. The ingenious solution consisted in building, on the route of this attractive to this day monument of hydrotechnical art, four locks (Miłomłyn, Zielona, ​​Mała Rus and Ostróda) ​​and five slipways (Buczyniec, Kąty, Oleśnica, Jelena, Całuny Nowe). The slipways eliminate the difference in water levels by more than 99 m. Ships and yachts cross slipways on special trolleys. Certainly, just like over 100 years ago, today, only our ships sail on the grass.

All those who want to expand the knowledge about the Canal, please visit our partner portal, KANAL-ELBLASKI.PL. Everything in one place: descriptions, history, objects and most importantly, unlimited number of photos and videos.

 

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PILOTAGE

The length of the Canal is calculated from the lock in Miłomłyn and from there you can sail in three directions, to Iława, Ostróda and Elbląg. The total length of the water system is 151.7 km. The length of the three main routes is 115.6 km. Lakes constitute 59.15 km, 53.54 km of excavations, 2.31 km inclines and 0.5 km embankments. Canal sections are quite narrow, sometimes no wider than 7 m, sail slowly (speed limit up to 6 km / h) and watchfully, passing can be quite complicated. The problem may be periodic overgrowing of the Canal, cleaning the screw is more than indicated.

The length of route I: Miłomłyn Śluza - Druzno lake is 52.0 km (Elbląg still has 10 km Lake Druzno and 6 km by the Elblążka river), including 21.3 km of lakes on the Elbląg (Ilińsk, Ruda Woda, Piniewo, Sambród, Druzno ), 28.39 km for trenches, 2.31 km for inclines, which are the biggest attraction of the Canal. There are five of them: Buczyniec, Kąty, Oleśnica, Jelena and Całuny Nowe. On the section of 9.45 km, they allow to overcome the terrain difference of 99.5 m. The beginning of the Druzno Lake is the end of the Elbląg Canal. Next, the sailing is carried out by the lake and the Elbląg river through the city of Elbląg to the Vistula Lagoon.

ROUTE MIŁOMŁYN - ELBLĄG

The length of route II: Miłomłyn Śluza - Szeląg lake (Staszkowo and Stare Jabłonki) is 31.3 km in total, of which lakes constitute 15.65 km (Drwęckie, Pauzeńskie, Szeląg, Wielki and Mały). The canal overcomes four locks - Miłomłyn, Zielona, ​​Ostróda, Mała Rus. The section between the Zielona sluice and the Ostróda sluice is the lowest position of the entire Elbląg Canal. Two branches leave from the Drwęckie Lake, to Piławki and to the estuary of the Drwęca River.

ROUTE MIŁOMŁYN - SZELĄG

The length of route III: Miłomłyn Śluza - Iława / Zalewo is 32.3 km in total, including 22.2 km through the lakes (Karnickie, Dobskie, Jeziorak), 9.5 km through trenches and 0.5 km km across the embankment (Lake Karnickie), which is unique on a global scale. The channel on which we sail is higher than the surrounding lake.

ROUTE MIŁOMŁYN - IŁAWA

ROUTE MIŁOMŁYN - ZALEWO

The length of the most important side trails is 36.2 km, including Lake Ilińsk 3.5 km, Lake Bartężek 7.6 km, Lake Druzno 7.4 km, Jeziorak - Zalewo 17.7 km.

The most important side routes of the Canal include:
• from the first section of Miłomłyn - the Druzno lake: the route from the Ruda Woda lake through the pier (the Bartnicki Canal) to the Lake Bartężek and the route to the town of Zatoka through the Ilińsk lake.
• from the second section of Miłomłyn - Ostróda, branches on Lake Drwęckie from the northern branch to Piławek and west to Samborów (weir on the Drwęca River).
• from the third section of Miłomłyn - Iława, the routes from Lake Jeziorak to Jerzwałd go through the Płaskie lake and to Zalewo by a crossroad (the Dobrzycki Canal) and through the Ewingi lake.

SLIPWAYS

The biggest attraction of the Elbląg Canal is the slipway system thanks to which, once, water transport and today tourist is possible. Almost a hundred meter difference in levels between Lake Druzno and Jeziorak has been compensated thanks to a system of five slipways where yachts, tourist barges, ships drive on grass. The slipway is a set of mechanical devices and hydrotechnical constructions that aim to drag vessels from one end to another. The longitudinal routes on the Elbląg Canal run along the shipping channel route line, always in a straight line, consist of two parallel running tracks. Two bogies with a dead weight of 33 t and a carrying capacity of 50 t each are attached to the traction line - attached to thick ropes, they alternately reach the two ends of the slipway, driven only by the force of flowing water. The driving power of the ramp is obtained due to the difference in levels on both sections of the small channel at the ramp. Then, through a complicated mechanism, the trolleys drive the water wheel (or, on the Shroud ramp, the turbine). The water wheel, which is almost 8 meters in diameter and about 5 meters wide, is the main source of the mechanism, located in the engine room. As it can only move in one direction, a manual clutch mechanism is used, which allows you to change the direction in which the wheel-driven system moves.

pochylnia CalunySLIPWAY CAŁUNY is the fifth and final of the incline of the Elbląg Canal (counting from Miłomłyn). The difference in water levels is 13.83 m. The slope of the Shroud is younger than the other slipways by about 33 years. In 1850, next to today's slipway, 5 wooden locks were made (on the section from Lake Druzno to Jelenia - the third sluice was located at the level of today's slipway of the Shroud). The first projects assuming the liquidation of five locks and replacing them with an analogical slipway as the others were built already in 1864. However, the implementation of the slipway was much later (it was put into use in 1883). In contrast to the other slipways (where the propulsion is a water wheel), here the winding machine drives the Francis turbine with the vertical shaft.

pochylnia Jelenie nSLIPWAY JELENIE is the fourth incline of the Elbląg Canal, for those sailing from Miłomłyn. The difference in water levels between the upper and lower channel is almost 22 m at this point. Ships and yachts cover 433 m on the mainland. On this slipway, special attention must be paid to maneuvering difficulties when entering and leaving the trolley on the lower station of the slipway, where it flows out of the water from the outlet channel causes a strong lateral current that makes maneuvers difficult.

pochylnia Olesnica nSLIPWAY OLEŚNICA, located between km 41.60 - 42.00 of the Elbląg Canal is the middle slip of the channel. It has the largest water level difference of 24.2 m from all inclines. The length of the tracks is 479m.



pochylnia KatySLIPWAY KĄTY, located between km 38.70 - 39.20 of the Elbląg Canal is the second incline of the canal, counting from Miłomłyn. The Kąty slip has a construction typical for the incline of the Elbląg Canal. The difference in water levels between the upper and lower section of the canal is 18.9 m, the length of the land section 500 m. Unlike the previous slipways along the trail, the residential and commercial buildings in Kąty are located a considerable distance from the engine room.

pochylnia BuczyniecSLIPWAY BUCZYNIEC is the first ramp from the Iławskie Lake District or the last one if we sail from Elbląg. The difference in water level between the upper and lower section of the canal is 21.5 m, length of the land section 550 m. Among the slipways, it is distinguished by the Elbląg Canal Museum located here. Visitors can "from the inside" see the incline engine room and observe closely how its individual elements work. There is also an obelisk in honor of the creator of the Elbląg Canal and the idea of ​​an incline to the engineer Steenke. In the lower position, on the Elbląg Canal, there is a large campsite. At the top station there is a turntable and marina Żegluga Ostródzko-Elbląska. Behind the harbor is a long section of reinforced concrete wharf. The name of the slipway Buczyniec is not accidentally associated with beech trees. These impressive trees thickly cover the area of ​​this part of the channel on both its banks - this section of the route connecting Ostróda and Elbląg is the most forested.

SLUICES

The Elbląg Canal also has several locks that allow you to get to the water from Miłomłyn, to j. Drwęckie and then to Ostróda and j. Szeląg Wielki. The Elbląg Canal sluices are definitely narrower than the sluices on the Żuławy Loop, but the principle of operation is the same, thanks to them it is possible to swim along waterways with different water levels. The locks of MIŁOMŁYN and ZIELONA must be overcome to get from Miłomłyn to Ostróda, and the OSTRÓDA sluice and MAŁA RUŚ to continue on to j. Szeląg Wielki and to Stare Jabłonki. The construction of locks on the Elbląg Canal was initiated in the 1850s from the Miłomłyn and Zielona objects. Ostróda and Mała Ruś. All sluices on the canal functioned efficiently until 1920, when they decided to proceed with renovation activities within them. In the mid-1920s, the wooden chambers of the Miłomłyn and Zielona locks were thoroughly rebuilt, replacing them with massive concrete constructions.

The sluice is a hydrotechnical construction, erected to overcome water level differences by vessels. In most cases, it can be an integral part of the canal, separated from it by the gates. After the vessel has entered the lock chamber, the water level in the chamber and the outlet channel is leveled (by inflating or releasing it, depending on the need) with the outlet canal level. Then, the gates from the outlet channel side are opened, thus allowing the unit to exit the chamber.

sluza milomlynSLUISE MIŁOMŁYN, a chamber sluice with a concrete structure built at the end of the 19th century, with manual drive. It allows you to sail on the section of Miłomłyn - Ostróda and pass the waters from Lake Jeziorak to Lake Drwęckie. The water level difference is 3.44 m. The length of the lock is 33.88 m, width 3.6 m. At the lock there are parking berths, at which the yachts can safely be expected to be slack.

Sluza ZielonaSLUISE ZIELONA located in the town of Zielona in the Miłomłyn commune. A typical chamber sluice with a concrete structure. It was built at the end of the 19th century. The dimensions of the sluice: length 34.19m, width 3.55m. The difference in water level at the lock is 1.89 m.


sluza OstrodaSLUISE OSTRÓDA is a chamber lock with a concrete and brick structure with a hand-operated gates. The chamber is filled and emptied by gates in the gate (also hand-operated). Length 29.15 m, width 3.15 m, maximum slope 2,, 04 m. The object was built in 1872-1876 and underwent general reconstruction in the years 1923 - 1926. The masonry gates were replaced in 1998.

sluza mala rusSLUISE MAŁA RUŚ, construction and operation is identical to the above sluices, except that it is the smallest of them and with the smallest stroke of water. The lock is located in the village of Zwierzewo. It enables the vessels to overcome the difference in water levels up to 1.64m between Jezrej Szeląg Wielki (upper position) and Jez. Pauzeński (bottom position). Length 29.33 m, width 3.25 m

LAKES

j DruznoDRUZNO Lake, is a fragment of the former sea bay. As a result of gradual silting and overgrowing, a unique area of ​​Europe - a mainstay of water birds - was created. It is a nature reserve since 1966. The area of ​​the lake and the adjacent land cover an area of ​​approximately 3,300 hectares. The lake is very shallow, the average depth is, for 1.25 meters while the sections that have been deepened do not exceed 3 meters. Tourists who travel on the Elbląg Canal aboard a ship or a yacht await an amazing experience. The view of the gray heron sitting on the nest, cormorants looking for their prey, the richness of vegetation that grows on the lake impresses many passengers. 210 species of waterfowl and marsh birds have been observed on Drużno, of which 110 nest here permanently. You can meet here, among others gulls, gulls, terns, grebes, cranes, ducks and also white-tailed eagles.

j Ruda WodaRUDA WATER (DUCKIE) Lake, a long gutter lake located on the Elbląg Canal route, with a well-developed shoreline (31.250 m long coastline), with numerous depths and several small islands in the northern part of the reservoir (total area of ​​the islands - 0.9 ha ). The banks are mostly high and steep, surrounded by forests, only in the southern and northern parts, the banks are surrounded by fields and meadows. The lake is connected by watercourses and canals with the lakes: Ilińsk, Bartężek and Sambród. The Drela river flows into the lake. Nearby villages: Dzisnity, Liksajny, Szymonowo, Sople, Małdyty, Wilamowo and Wenecja. The average depth is 10.9 m and the maximum is 27.8 m.

j IlinskILIŃSKIE Lake, a reservoir with a developed shoreline, separated by an embankment of the now closed railway route (Ostróda - Morąg). The banks of the lake are high, sometimes steep. From the east and north-west the lake is surrounded by forests (outskirts of Las Taborskie), from the south-west the reservoir is adjacent to fields and meadows. The average depth is 8.6 m and the maximum 27.4 m. Hi banks built up with private summer houses and piers.

j bartezekBARTĘŻEK Lake, located to the west of the village of Bartężek. A gutter lake with an area of ​​385,3 ha with two islands of various sizes (total area of ​​islands - 1.2 ha). The 26.1 km long coastline is well developed, with numerous bays and peninsulas. The banks of the lake are mostly high, sometimes steep. In the southern and north-western part overgrown by mixed forests, the rest through fields and meadows. The average depth is 5.1 m and the maximum is 15.0 m

j drweckieDRWĘCKIE Lake, a lake in the Iława Lakeland, partly within the boundaries of Ostróda. Area 880.8 ha, depth 22.3 m, width 1.1 km, with an island with an area of ​​10.8 ha. It consists of two narrow gutters - one latitudinal, 12 km long, and the other, branched northwest, 5 km long. The banks in the northern part are high and forested (Liwskie Forests), in the southern part low, marshy and forestless. In the widest part of the lake is the island of Ostrów. From the east, the lake is connected by a canal (sluice) with the Pauzeński lake and through it with the Szeląg Wielki lake. The western branch of the Drwęckie Lake stretches latitudinally at the length of 11 km (width up to 0.8 km). The banks are low and wet, northern wooded.

j Jeziorak nJEZIORAK Lake, the longest lake in Poland, the sixth largest in the country; 44,49 ha (along with Płaski and islands), max. 12.8 m, length 27.4 km, width 0.2-3.4 km. The axis of the narrow, guttering lake runs from north to south, in the middle part, breaking and changing direction to the southeast and then to the southwest. In the central part Jeziorak expands; there are several islands along the route. At the height of the village of Siemiany, the Kraga Bay, northeast, runs through the Lake Dauby connecting Jeziorak Lake with the Elbląg Canal. A brook from the lake Urowiec flows into the west bank, and a little higher up to the lake leads to Lake Plaski. The main basin continues to the north and divides into two bays: the eastern western blind connected by the canal to the Ewingi lake. From the southern end of Jeziorak flows the Iławka River, here also lies the largest inland island in Europe - Wielka Żuława (82.4 ha) and the entrance to the channel connecting Lake Jeziorak with Jeziorak Mały in Iława. The shores of Jeziorak are usually high and steep. The western shore and the central part of the east bank adjoin large forest complexes. The rest of the edges are covered with fields, meadows and smaller clusters of the forest.

ewingiEWINGI Lake, area 490.4 ha, max. 3 m, max. 2.4 km, length of 63,6 km. A lake with an oval coastline with a narrow and heavily extended to the south. the bay near pd. east. shore. At the end of this bay there is an inlet to the channel, which connects Ewinga with the farthest on the north. advanced part of Jeziorak. J. Ewingi is shallow, heavily overgrown with aquatic vegetation. The completely flat banks are surrounded by marshy meadows and swamps. At Mon. parts of east Zalewo lies on the bank, and near the bank of the South. Koziny village. Lake Gardzień, area: 85 ha, max. 2 m, width: 300 m, length: 3.5 km.

Havens

Sailing along the Elbląg Canal and lakes connected with it, you have to stand somewhere from time to time. Complete your supplies, visit interesting places, and stay with other crews. Although the Canal is almost unspoilt, you can find several places ideal for an afternoon stopover or overnight stay, or replenishment of supplies. Several marinas joined forces and created a network of GOŚCIŃCÓW, recommend each other, promote and care for the waterman to get services at the highest level.

milomlynMIŁOMŁYN - Przystań na Wyspie - our home port is a place that will gladly welcome sailors, canoeists, motorboats, cyclists and every traveler on the Elbląg Canal route. The marina offers a boat stop at the jetty, a warm shower, a place to pitch a tent and light a bonfire, as well as renting canoes. Cooperation with local producers of cold meats, cheese and honey resulted in tasting evantami, baked pig or ham is not a problem. A lot of knowledge about the region, water routes and other interesting places will surely prove useful. This place, on the one hand intimate and drowning in the green of age hornbeams, lindens and maples, is almost in the center of the town, where you can easily get everything you need during the trip.

karczemkaKARCZEMKA - j. Piniewskie - grange formed from ruins and passions. A magical place with its own history, perfect for a stopover between Buczyniec and Sambrodzie. Although most visitors are land visitors, the owners welcome the crews of yachts sailing on the Elbląg Canal. On-site restaurant and wellness with a hot tub. The lake is very overgrown with a side stretch towards the piers, approach quite shallow, maneuver with particular attention.


chmielowka nCHMIELÓWKA - j. Jeziorak -
summer resort in the Kraga bay, the first marina we encounter when entering Jeziorak. A place where we can find only forest and water, without the hustle and bustle of urban marinas. Two large piers, i.e. places a lot, a boozer will get electricity, water, shower, warm food at a local restaurant. Well-kept swimming pool, fireplace on the beach.

matytyMATYTY - j. Jeziorak - everyone who flows to Zalewa, will pass this place on his left side. A marina run by people with passion, caring for details and every guest. Matyta's marina is primarily an agritourism farm, feeds home, roasts bread, makes meats and cheese, offers horse riding, and organizes sophisticated concerts in the summer. Matyty is a small village, only 50 inhabitants, and hence, peace, quietness, what is there in excess.

pod omegaOMEGA - j. Jeziorak - marina, maybe slightly away from the center of Iława, but offering everything that a boater needs, including technical assistance, boatbuilding and substantive. They know everything about Jeziorak and all types of boats. Over thirty years of experience, he does his own, In the place of Tawerna (often there are shanty concerts), a sailing shop, a place for a bonfire. A few hundred meters to the gas station.

zalewoEKO MARINA ZALEWO - j. Ewingi - a modern marina was created a few years ago, characterized by a lookout tower visible from a distance. The waterers will get there, electricity, water, and a warm shower. The marina is one of the eleventh such facilities in the province Warmia and Mazury, we moor to Y-bomów or in the east port of the main building, the port basin, where there is also a slip. An important point on the route of the cruise, because there you can replenish your supplies, everywhere as close as possible. Zalewo is a small town with a rich, over 700 years of history and many monuments.

pilawkiPIŁAWKI - j. Drwęckie - actually its end, a place that once welcomed the drivers, has now opened to the water sportsmen. Several berths, a restaurant with a good kitchen, a fireplace. A great alternative for Ostróda marinas, especially for those who are looking for places without city noise.


stare jablonkiSTANICA WODNA STARE JABŁONKI - j. Szeląg Mały - just behind the tunnel, we will find a small bridge, but let us not be mistaken, the center has its size. Well-groomed swimming pool, playgrounds, floating equipment rental and more, all of this we receive from the hosts. Those looking for a relaxing SPA will find it in the nearby Anders hotel.


slimakBISTRO ŚLIMAK - Krasin - it's hard to call it a haven, the more that lies a bit from the Canal, but it is an important point of the trip. Only there we enjoy the palate with snazzy specialties, snails from Burgundzku, dumplings with snails, these are just some of them. Hosts about snails know everything, not only feed them but also breed, reproduce, and process. On the spot, a mini zoo and a house in the shape of a snail, fun for kids. It's all a bit of a road from the Olesnica slipway. If needed, the owners will provide snails catering for the yacht.

klobukZAJAZD KŁOBUK - Małdyty - similar to snails, it is not a typical haven but a place worth visiting, cultivates local culinary traditions. Only there we will get delicious roasted potato skins with bacon. Let's stand next to the bridge in Małdyty and a few hundred meters away you will find yourself in the land of local specialties that you can buy in your local shop. It is worth mentioning that the second life of the object began after the kitchen revolutions of Magda Gessler. There is a gas station next to the Inn.

In addition to GOŚCIŃCE, there are several other, not less interesting, places to visit and accommodation. There are the most of them on Jeziorak. In IŁAWA itself, there are: EKOMARINA; PORT 110 or PORT IŁAWA. A few kilometers north of Iława, we find marinas in SZAŁKOWO and MAKOWO. One can not forget about SIEMIANY and its EKOMARINA, or the KURKA WODNA harbor, as well as about the so-called 'jetty' scattered around the lake. EU, with each to find Toi-Toi, a big baggage and a place for a bonfire.
For those who sailed towards the Żuławy Loop, ELBLĄG will be on the road with a few berths. BULVES OF ZYGMUNT AUGUST, unfortunately without a sanitary node but in the very heart of the old town, just below the Cathedral. A bit distant from the center, the marina: HOW BRYZA (east bank) and JK WODNIK (west bank), both with full sanitary facilities, in Wodnik you can empty the tank for feces and lift the boat with a crane.
J. Drwęckie is, of course, OSTRÓDA, and there are several marinas and marinas on the south bank: LOK OSTRÓDA, KŻ OSTRÓDA. In the very center you can stand by the wooden pier, right next to the Żegluga Ostródzko - Elbląska marina. Unfortunately, there is no access to electricity, water or toilets, but the proximity of pubs is tempting.
If we came to Szeląg, it is worth going to the north end of it and visit ZAKĄTEK, a place where the trail ends, there we will find silence, peace, a full bathroom sanitary facility. It is from the Zakątka nearest to the Sosna Taborska reserve.


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