Twentekanaal

[[Image:Location Twentekanaal.PNG|thumb|right|250px|Location of Twentekanaal]] The '''Twentekanaal''' is a [[canal]] running through the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] provinces of [[Gelderland]] and [[Overijssel]], connecting the three largest cities of the [[Twente]] region, [[Almelo]], [[Hengelo]] and [[Enschede]] to the national network of [[river]]s and canals. Because the canal forks to reach Almelo, the canal is officially plural, thus '''Twentekanalen''' (Twentecanals). [[Image:Twentekanaal bij Enschede.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Twentekanaal in [[Enschede]]]] The Twentekanaal starts at the [[IJssel]] North of [[Zutphen]] at the village of [[Eefde]] and runs through [[Almen]], [[Lochem]], [[Goor]], [[Delden]] and [[Hengelo]] to [[Enschede]]. West of [[Delden]], a fork of the canal runs to [[Almelo]]. Both canals (Zutphen - Enschede and the fork Delden - Almelo) are managed by [[Rijkswaterstaat]] (the Dutch government body responsible for waterways). The part of the canal Eefde - Delden is 33 kilometres long, the fork Delden - Almelo is 15 kilometres long and the parts of the canal Delden - Hengelo and Hengelo - Enschede are subsequently 9 and 5 kilometres long. The total length of the canal is 65 kilometres. At this moment (between 2004 and 2007), The Twentekanaal is being widened and deepened from a class IV to a class Va waterway. This means that a big Rhine ship (max. 11.50 wide, a draught of 2.70 and a length of 110 metres) can use the canal. A study related to the history of the canal speaks of "a success out of a failure": the economic development as a result of the construction of the canal has been a disappointment, but the canal has had a huge impact on water management. ==History== [[Image:Twentekanaal.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Twentekanaal at the Dochterense bridge in the vicinity of [[Lochem]]]] Although the first plan for a canal to Twente dates back to the middle of the 19th century, construction did not start until 1930, after a quarrel of nearly a quarter of a century about eight subjects. The canal was constructed to secure a better supply of raw materials for the [[textile industry]] (rough cotton) and for the supply of [[coal]] from the [[Mining|mines]] in [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]]. Most of the canal was constructed as a job project for unemployed workers during the crisis. The canal was largely dug by hand. In 1938 the canal was completed. In 1953 the canal was extended and the fork was constructed, connecting the harbour of Almelo and the [[Kanaal Almelo-De Haandrik]] to the Twentekanaal. ==Current function== [[Image:Sluis Eefde hoog.jpg|thumb|The Canal Lock at Eefde]] Nowadays the canal is used for the transport of [[sand]], [[gravel]], [[salt]] and cattle food. In 1996 432,277 ton was loaded and unloaded in Enschede and in 2,322,270 ton in Hengelo. Furthermore, the canal has a recreational function for both sailing and fishing, [[drainage]] and the [[drinking water]]supply of Enschede. The drinking water is produced by pumping the water out of the canal at [[Lonnekerbrug]]. The water is pumped into the ground and filtered by sand and gravel; the drinking water produced this way, provides 80% of the drinking water needs of Enschede. For the draining purposes of all the streams connected to the canal, the [[Pumping station]] in Delden and Eefde are capable of pumping the water out of the canal. The canal is capable of handling 190,000 litres of water per second. On the part of the canal from Hengelo to Enschede much training of [[Rowing (sport)|professional rowers]] takes place. As a result of a few serious accidents between [[Cargo ship]]s and [[skiff]]s a learning and exchange project was started to generate mutual respect and understanding between these two groups. For the professional shipping, all [[Lock (water transport)|locks]] have been equipped with warning signs to remind them of the recreational shipping, while the rowers were invited to take a look at the bridge of a cargo ship and experience the controls of these ships. ==Canal Locks== The total height difference between Zutphen and Enschede is 21 metres. To bridge this difference, the Twentekanaal has three [[Lock (water transport)|Canal Locks]]. The lock at Eefde bridges approximately 6 meters, depending on the water level in the IJssel. The lock at Delden also bridges 6 meters and the lock at Hengelo 9 meters. There are no locks in the fork to Almelo. Because the locks have to bridge a lot, much water is wasted. To compensate this, every lock has a [[Pumping station]]. ==Characteristics== {{Twentekanaal}} *Length = 65 km *Shipping class = IV (after 2007: Va) *Year operational = 1938 (connected to Almelo harbor in 1953) *Runs from [[Almelo]]/[[Enschede]] to the river [[IJssel]] *Runs through the provinces of [[Overijssel]] and [[Gelderland]] in [[The Netherlands]] {{coord missing|Netherlands}}