Augustów Canal

Information

The Augustów Canal is a unique in Europe work of water engineering from the first half of the 19th century. It was decided to buildit in order to bypass the Prussian customs chambers during the transit of grain to Gdańsk, during the Polish-Prussian customs war. The canal connects the tributaries of the Vistula with the Baltic via a circular route through the tributaries of the Nemunas, bypassing the lower reaches of the Vistula. It is 103.4 km long, of which the vast majority, over 80%, is located in our country, and the rest in Belarus. Along its length, thanks to numerous locks, it overcomes a water level difference of over 54 meters. The differences in water levels between individual reservoirs range from 0.8 to 9.8 m. There are 12 lakes on the route of the Augustów Canal. The canal is used by ships from Żegluga Augustowska, carrying approximatly 100 thousand passengers a year passengers on several routes. The Augustów Canal is part of the Batory Trail. Together with the complex of buildings and equipment, it was entered in the register of immovable monuments and recognized as a historical monument. It has also been included in the European Thematic Trail of Transport and Communication, which is part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.