The Magdeburg Water Bridge at 918 metres in length is the longest navigable aqueduct built over the river Elbe in Germany. The bridge was completed in 2003 as part of the unification project to link former East Germany and West Germany.
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 12 km detour, descending from the Mittelland Canal through the Rothensee boat lift into the Elbe, and 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.
The construction of the aqueduct was started in the 1930s but due to the World War II and subsequent division of Germany it remained suspended till 1997. The aqueduct was finally completed and opened to the public in 2003.
Picture Credit : Google
