The Swoboda Lock (German: Schleuse Swoboda) is one of 16 locks on the Main-Danube Canal (Rhein-Main-Donau-Kanal) in Bavaria, Germany. It is named after the nearby district of Swoboda within the municipality of Hilpoltstein.
Location and Context
The Swoboda Lock is situated in the administrative district of Roth, approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) south of Hilpoltstein. It lies on the southern ramp of the Main-Danube Canal, a crucial waterway that connects the Main River (and thereby the Rhine) with the Danube River, thus linking the North Sea with the Black Sea across Europe. The lock is located at canal-kilometre 97.46, counting from Bamberg.
Technical Specifications
- Type: Single-chamber lock
- Chamber Length: 190 meters (623 feet)
- Chamber Width: 12 meters (39 feet)
- Lift Height: 17.0 meters (55.8 feet) – This is the vertical distance vessels are raised or lowered.
- Coordinates: 49°11′55″N 11°13′55″E
- Operational Control: The lock is remotely controlled from the Leerstetten Lock control center, which manages several locks along the canal.
History
Construction of the Main-Danube Canal, including its numerous locks like Swoboda, took place over several decades. The Swoboda Lock became operational as part of the southern section of the canal, which was completed and inaugurated in 1992. Its construction was integral to the overall project aiming to create a continuous navigable waterway from the Rhine to the Danube.
Significance
The Swoboda Lock plays a vital role in enabling commercial and recreational shipping along the Main-Danube Canal. By raising and lowering vessels, it helps overcome the significant elevation differences between the various sections of the canal, ensuring the seamless flow of traffic on European Waterway E30/E70. It is a critical component of Germany's and Europe's inland waterway infrastructure.
See Also
- Main-Danube Canal
- Locks on the Main-Danube Canal
- Inland navigation in Germany