Canal de Caen à la Mer
Encyclopedia
Canal de Caen à la Mer also called the "Caen Canal") is a short canal
in the department (préfecture) of Calvados
, France
, connecting the Port of Caen
, in the city of Caen
, downstream to the town of Ouistreham
and the English Channel
.
Running from north north-east to south south-west, the canal runs parallel to the Orne River
which feeds it, it is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) long, and comprises two locks
. Digging began in 1837, and when it was opened on August 23, 1857 it was only 4 metres (13.1 ft) deep. It was deepened in 1920. The canal began with the dock
at St. Peter's Basin (Bassin Saint-Pierre), in the downtown area of Caen. The canal is made up of a group of quays and docks. The current depth is 10 metres (32.8 ft), and the width can reach 200 metres (656.2 ft) in the dock of Calix).
The quay at Blainville-sur-Orne
measures more than 600 metres (1,968.5 ft). It acts as the fourth commercial French port for the importation of exotic wood, generally coming from the Gulf of Guinea
. It also loads and unloads iron
, fertilizer
, coal
, and construction material. The port exports cereal
s that are produced in the area and has a silo
capacity of 33,000 tons.
One of the two locks at the port of Ouistreham, at the mouth of the canal, can accommodate ship
s of more than 200 metres (656.2 ft) length.
Also at Blainville is a Renault Trucks
manufacturing plant. The plant is across the canal from the town, to the southeast, between the canal and the Orne River. Just across the river from the plant is the community of Colombelles
.
The channel passes the side of the Château de Bénouville
. The famous Pegasus Bridge
(aka "Ham"), from D-Day
, June 6, 1944, crossed the canal near the village of Bénouville
. The canal was considered both tactically and strategically important during the opening phases of the Battle of Normandy
, as it was located on the eastern flank of the Allied beachhead
area. The bridge was replaced in 1994.
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
in the department (préfecture) of Calvados
Calvados
The French department of Calvados is part of the region of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. It takes its name from a cluster of rocks off the English Channel coast...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, connecting the Port of Caen
Port of Caen
The Port of Caen, Port de Caen, is the harbour and port authority of the Norman city of Caen, France.The port of Caen is composed of a series of basins on the Canal de Caen à la Mer, linking Caen to Ouistreham, 15 km downstream, on the English Channel.-Layout:The port of Caen was originally...
, in the city of Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
, downstream to the town of Ouistreham
Ouistreham
Ouistreham is a commune in the Calvados department' in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Ouistreham is a small port with fishing boats, leisure craft and a ferry-harbour. It serves as the port of the city of Caen. The town is about the mouth of the Canal de Caen à la...
and the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
.
Running from north north-east to south south-west, the canal runs parallel to the Orne River
Orne River
The Orne is a river in Normandy, within northwestern France. It discharges into the English Channel at the port of Ouistreham. Its source is in Aunou-sur-Orne, east of Sées...
which feeds it, it is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) long, and comprises two locks
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
. Digging began in 1837, and when it was opened on August 23, 1857 it was only 4 metres (13.1 ft) deep. It was deepened in 1920. The canal began with the dock
Dock (maritime)
A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a shore.However, the exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language...
at St. Peter's Basin (Bassin Saint-Pierre), in the downtown area of Caen. The canal is made up of a group of quays and docks. The current depth is 10 metres (32.8 ft), and the width can reach 200 metres (656.2 ft) in the dock of Calix).
The quay at Blainville-sur-Orne
Blainville-sur-Orne
Blainville-sur-Orne is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Blainville-sur-Orne is on the west side of the Canal de Caen à la Mer, just south of Bénouville and the famous Pegasus Bridge of D-Day fame. The town is also home to a Renault Trucks ...
measures more than 600 metres (1,968.5 ft). It acts as the fourth commercial French port for the importation of exotic wood, generally coming from the Gulf of Guinea
Gulf of Guinea
The Gulf of Guinea is the northeasternmost part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean between Cape Lopez in Gabon, north and west to Cape Palmas in Liberia. The intersection of the Equator and Prime Meridian is in the gulf....
. It also loads and unloads iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
, fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
, coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, and construction material. The port exports cereal
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
s that are produced in the area and has a silo
Silo
A silo is a structure for storing bulk materials.Silo may also refer to:* Silo , a 3D modeling software* Silo , a defunct chain of retail electronics stores* SILO , used in Linux...
capacity of 33,000 tons.
One of the two locks at the port of Ouistreham, at the mouth of the canal, can accommodate ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s of more than 200 metres (656.2 ft) length.
Also at Blainville is a Renault Trucks
Renault Trucks
Renault Trucks is a French truck manufacturer with its corporate headquarters at Saint-Priest near Lyon. Originally part of Renault, it has been owned by Volvo Group since 2001....
manufacturing plant. The plant is across the canal from the town, to the southeast, between the canal and the Orne River. Just across the river from the plant is the community of Colombelles
Colombelles
Colombelles is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.It is located on the Canal de Caen à la Mer.-Population:...
.
The channel passes the side of the Château de Bénouville
Château de Bénouville
The Château de Bénouville is a building in Bénouville, Normandy, near Caen The Château de Bénouville is a building in Bénouville, Normandy, near Caen The Château de Bénouville is a building in Bénouville, Normandy, near Caen (northern France. It was designed in 1769 by architect Claude Nicolas...
. The famous Pegasus Bridge
Pegasus Bridge
Pegasus Bridge is a bascule bridge , built in 1934, that crossed the Caen Canal, between Caen and Ouistreham, in Normandy, France....
(aka "Ham"), from D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, June 6, 1944, crossed the canal near the village of Bénouville
Bénouville, Calvados
Bénouville is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.It is located on the Canal de Caen à la Mer close to Caen and Ouistreham.-Sights:* Château de Bénouville completed in 1777 by Claude Nicolas Ledoux...
. The canal was considered both tactically and strategically important during the opening phases of the Battle of Normandy
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, as it was located on the eastern flank of the Allied beachhead
Beachhead
Beachhead is a military term used to describe the line created when a unit reaches a beach, and begins to defend that area of beach, while other reinforcements help out, until a unit large enough to begin advancing has arrived. It is sometimes used interchangeably with Bridgehead and Lodgement...
area. The bridge was replaced in 1994.
Canal route
(From mouth to terminus)- OuistrehamOuistrehamOuistreham is a commune in the Calvados department' in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Ouistreham is a small port with fishing boats, leisure craft and a ferry-harbour. It serves as the port of the city of Caen. The town is about the mouth of the Canal de Caen à la...
- BénouvilleBénouville, CalvadosBénouville is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.It is located on the Canal de Caen à la Mer close to Caen and Ouistreham.-Sights:* Château de Bénouville completed in 1777 by Claude Nicolas Ledoux...
- Blainville-sur-OrneBlainville-sur-OrneBlainville-sur-Orne is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Blainville-sur-Orne is on the west side of the Canal de Caen à la Mer, just south of Bénouville and the famous Pegasus Bridge of D-Day fame. The town is also home to a Renault Trucks ...
- ColombellesColombellesColombelles is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.It is located on the Canal de Caen à la Mer.-Population:...
- Hérouville-Saint-ClairHérouville-Saint-ClairHérouville-Saint-Clair is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.It is a suburb of the city of Caen, and lies adjacent to it in a northeasterly direction, along the west side of the Canal de Caen à la Mer...
- CaenCaenCaen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....