How the canal operates, water supply and barge locks

Burgundy Canal

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How the Burgundy canal operates and functions

The canal is a man made water way comprising of locks and irrigated rivers. The canal's purpose is to allow cargo barges to navigate fromt the Atlantic ocean to the Mediterranean sea via the river Yonne and Seine to the river Saône and Rhône. The canal was built to climb in altitude and pass through the hills of central Burgundy.

Total length of the navigable waterway is 242 kilometres with a total of 209 locks.

Each lock is of a standard size and able to lift or descend a barge of 250 tonnes, 38 metres long and 5 metres wide.

This particular canal must be supplied with water from upstream. There are more than 63 kilometres of "secondary canals", with the sole purpose of supplying water to the canal from the reservoirs and rivers. This is different to "Lateral Canals" which follow rivers, they will use the water from the river which they are following and are generally created to allow boats to navigate whilst the river is unstable becaude of flooding or unfit to navigate.

Below are some subject titles linking to pages allowing you to discover some important facts concerning the canal.

Why there is a canal in Burgundy
How the canal works
The reservoirs and water supply
How a canal lock works step by step guide for up stream and down stream craft.
How the tunnel was made, an animation showing how to dig a tunnel through the hills.
Cost of navigation and cruising
Navigation on the canal, required documents and permits
Size limits for barges and boats sizes, facts and figures
Rules and tips
Opening times and calendar
Administration of the canal, lock keepers, up keep, V.N.F
Water flow, currents, flood control.
Ecology
Navigation problems and general upkeep.
The past and future politics of a canal.

Empty stretch of canal waiting for repair work

An empty stretch of the canal as maintenance work is in operation