The Leopold Canal (Dutch: Leopoldkanaal or Leopoldvaart, French: Canal Léopold) is a canal in northern Belgium. Construction occurred between 1847 and 1850 after the Belgian government granted permission in 1846. It runs about 40 km (25 mi) westward from Boekhoute to Heist-aan-Zee just south of the Dutch border. It is between 1.2 and 2.3 m (3 ft 11 in and 7 ft 7 in) deep. The canal was proposed by Canon Joseph Andries , local member of the Belgian National Congress, to prevent the Dutch from blocking the discharge of water and inundating the Meetjesland after Belgium's independence from the Netherlands.
Leopold Canal | |
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The Leopold Canal in Sint-Laureins | |
Specifications | |
Length | 46 km (29 mi) |
Status | Open |
History | |
Construction began | 1847 |
Date completed | 1850 |
Geography | |
Start point | west of Zelzate |
End point | North Sea |
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This canal was a major line of German resistance during the Battle of the Scheldt in World War II.
See also
editExternal links
editMedia related to Leopoldkanaal at Wikimedia Commons
51°15′52″N 3°38′18″E / 51.264466°N 3.638363°E