Interesting facts about the Elbląg Canal

The beginning of the construction of the Elbląg canal, at that time called the “Oberlandischer Canal”, dates to 28 October 1844.

The first stage of the construction was completed in 1860. The entire undertaking was completed in 1881. The construction of this outstanding miracle of engineering lasted 37 years.

The image of Georg Jacob Steenke, the designer of the Elbląg Canal, was unknown until 2019.

photo: Bartosz Rybaczewski, copyright © KE LGD

The Elbląg Canal had over 20 names from 1844 to modern times. Today, we distinguish three names for individual sections of this waterway:

• The Elbląg Canal – the name of the section from Drwęckie lake to Drużno lake,
• The Iława Canal – the name of the section from Miłomłyn, through Karnickie lake and Dauby lake to Jeziorak lake,
• The Ostróda Canal – the name of the section from Ostróda, through Pauzeńskie lake, to SzelągWielki and Szeląg Mały lakes.

The Elbląg Canal was fully opened 6 years before the construction of the Eiffel Tower began, and the cost of construction was probably 10% higher than that of the famous building in Paris.

The construction expenses were initially estimated at 1.5 million thalers, and the actual costs were almost three times as much.
In 2007, the Elbląg Canal was recognised to be one of the seven wonders of Poland in the poll organised by “Rzeczpospolita”.

The first passenger cruise on the Elbląg Canal took place on 5 June 1850 on the “Seerose” (“Sea Rose”) vessel. It was this boat that started a regular passenger liner shipping. “Seerose” belonged to the Schiffs-Reederei shipping company, owned by Adolf Tetzlaff.
Adolf Tetzlaff, born in Siemiany and residing in Ostróda, is thought to be the creator of passenger shipping on the Elbląg Canal.

You will learn those and many other interesting facts only during a cruise on the grass on the “Bursztyn” boat on the Elbląg Canal.