Canal de la Somme

The Canal de la Somme is a canal in northern France. Its total length is 156.4 km with 25 locks, from the English Channel at Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme to the Canal de Saint-Quentin at Saint-Simon.

Canal de la Somme
The entrance of the Canal de la Somme from the English Channel at Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme
Specifications
Length156.4 km (97.2 mi)
Locks25
Total rise66 m (217 ft)
History
Construction began1770
Date completed1843
Geography
Start pointEnglish Channel at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
End pointCanal de Saint-Quentin at St. Simon
Connects toCanal de Saint-Quentin but disused Canal du Nord
Location of Canal de la Somme, showing the upstream section disused; middle section shared with Canal du Nord

History

The Somme River was canalized beginning in 1770. The 54 km section from St. Simon to Bray was completed by 1772, but the rest was not finished until 1843.[1]

Overview

The canal as originally built has seen substantial modifications since construction of the Canal du Nord in 1904-1965, and is now made up of four distinct sections:

Some authors distinguish the Grande Somme downstream from Péronne and the Petite Somme upstream from Voyennes. Since 2005 the latter section has been closed to navigation as a result of silt deposits.[1]

In the 1960s, more than 300,000 tonnes of goods were transported on the canal. Today it is used largely by pleasure boats.

En Route

See also

References
  1. Jefferson, David (2009). Through the French Canals. Adlard Coles Nautical. p. 275. ISBN 978-1-4081-0381-4.
  2. Edwards-May, David (2010). Inland Waterways of France. St Ives, Cambs., UK: Imray. pp. 90–94. ISBN 978-1-846230-14-1.
  3. Fluviacarte, Canal de la Somme (amont)
  • Canal de la Somme information on places, ports and moorings on the canal, by the author of Inland Waterways of France, Imray
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