page_title: Elbląg Canal
section_title: The inclined planes
hierarchical_section_title: Elbląg Canal / The inclined planes
caption_attribution_description: English: Slip ramp, seen from the lower endDeutsch: Geneigte Ebene von unten gesehen
context_page_description: Elbląg Canal is a canal in Poland, in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, 80.5 km in length, which runs southward from Lake Drużno, to the river Drwęca and lake Jeziorak. It can accommodate small vessels up to 50 tons displacement. The difference in water levels approaches 100 m, and is overcome using locks and a remarkable system of inclined planes between lakes.
  Today it is used mainly for recreational purposes. It is considered one of the most significant monuments related to the history of technology and was named one of the Seven Wonders of Poland. The canal was also named one of Poland's official national Historic Monuments, as designated January 28, 2011. Its listing is maintained by the National Heritage Board of Poland.
context_section_description: The four original inclined planes are, in order from the summit level downwards, Buczyniec (Buchwalde) with a rise of 20.4 m and a length of 224.8 m, Kąty (Kanthen) with a rise of 18.83 m and a length of 225.97 m, Oleśnica (Schönfeld) with a rise of 21.97 m and a length of 262.63 m and Jelenie (Hirschfeld) with a rise of 21.97 m and a length of 263.63 m.
  The fifth incline is Całuny Nowe (Neu-Kussfeld) with a rise of 13.72 m. It was built to replace five wooden locks close to Elbląg. They were constructed from 1860 to 1880.
  The canal worked independently of other waterways and as a result the boats were designed within the limits of the inclines. The boats had a maximum length of 24.48 m, a maximum width of 2.98 m and a maximum draught of 1.1 m, they carried loads of about 50 tonnes.
  The inclines all consist of two parallel rail tracks with a gauge of 3.27 m. Boats are carried on carriages that run on these rails. The inclines rise from the lower level of the canal to a summit and then down a second shorter incline to the upper canal level. The first part of the main incline and the short upper incline were both built at a gradient of 1:24. A carriage is lowered down the incline to counterbalance an upward moving carriage. Once the downward moving carriage has reached the summit and started down the main incline its weight helps pull up the upward moving carriage. This allowed the slope of the incline for this section to be built at a higher gradient of 1:12.
caption: Elbląg Canal inclined plane
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