The Canal du Midi (Occitan: Canal de las Doas Mars, meaning canal of the two seas) is a canal in Southern France constructed between 1666 and 1681. It was considered at the time to be one of the greatest construction works of the 17th century and is one the oldest canals of Europe still in operation. Essentially (with the involvement of navigable rivers) it joins the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. The main purpose at the time was to create a direct passage between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic without passing through the Strait of Gibraltar controlled by the Spaniards.
Interesting points . . .
- the second ever large scale water reservoir was built to supply water to the canal as it crosses the continental divide
- workers were paid loyalty bonuses, paid sick leave, non-working rain days, public hols & Sundays off
- the problems of channels and lifting water were essentially solved by female workers who came from the Pyrenees who knew and still used the old Roman techniques of water supply.
- commercial freight traffic only ceased in the 1970s
- it is closed in winter to allow for maintenance
- it also provides water to irrigate 40,000 hectares of farming land
- at the busiest lock now there are over 10,000 tourist boat passages per season
Interesting points . . .
- the second ever large scale water reservoir was built to supply water to the canal as it crosses the continental divide
- workers were paid loyalty bonuses, paid sick leave, non-working rain days, public hols & Sundays off
- the problems of channels and lifting water were essentially solved by female workers who came from the Pyrenees who knew and still used the old Roman techniques of water supply.
- commercial freight traffic only ceased in the 1970s
- it is closed in winter to allow for maintenance
- it also provides water to irrigate 40,000 hectares of farming land
- at the busiest lock now there are over 10,000 tourist boat passages per season
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