Kanupark Markkleeberg
Encyclopedia
Kanupark Markkleeberg, built in 2006, is the second of two artificial whitewater
canoe/kayak slalom courses in Germany, and the only one powered by pumps. The other German course is the Eiskanal
in Augsburg
, used in the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich
. Kanupark Markkleeberg is located on the southeast shore of Markkleeberger See
, a lake south of Markkleeberg
, a suburb on the south side of Leipzig
. A former open-pit coal mine, the lake was flooded in 1999 with groundwater and developed as a water recreation area. The lake is part of the Leipziger Neuseenland
, the largest landscape construction project in Europe, which is reclaiming formerly barren industrial and mining sites for recreational use.
The whitewater park was planned as part of Leipzig's bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics
, which were ultimately awarded to London. It was completed in time to serve as a training facility for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. With movable plastic bollards serving as water diversion features, it was possible to rig the competition course to be a close duplicate of the one at Beijing's Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park
. Since formally opening in April 2007, the state-of-the-art Kanupark has hosted a full schedule of regional and international competitions. In 2010 it hosted the Junior and Under-23 European Championships.
Kanupark Markkleeberg has two courses which loop in opposite directions from the pump house. Each loop has its own conveyor-belt boat lift. The north loop is a training course 130 meters (427 feet) long, with a 1.8 meter (6 ft) drop, a 1.4% slope of 13.8 m/km (73 ft/mile), and a streamflow of 4 to 14 m³/s (141 to 494 ft³/s). The south loop is the competition course with a length of 270 meters (886 feet), a 5.2 meter (17 ft) drop, and a 2.1% slope of 21.1 m/km (111 ft/mile). With a streamflow of 4 to 18 m³/s (141 to 636 ft³/s), it generates class III-IV whitewater.
Artificial whitewater
An artificial whitewater course is a site for whitewater canoeing, whitewater kayaking, whitewater racing, whitewater rafting, playboating and slalom canoeing with artificially generated rapids.-Flow diversion:...
canoe/kayak slalom courses in Germany, and the only one powered by pumps. The other German course is the Eiskanal
Eiskanal
The Eiskanal is an artificial canal feature in the city of Augsburg, Germany that was constructed as the canoe slalom venue for the 1972 Summer Olympics that were hosted in Munich....
in Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
, used in the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. Kanupark Markkleeberg is located on the southeast shore of Markkleeberger See
Markkleeberger See
Markkleeberger See is a lake in Saxony, Germany, next to Markkleeberg, a suburb on the south side of Leipzig. At an elevation of 112.5 m, its surface area is 2.52 km². It is a former open-pit coal mine, flooded in 1999 with groundwater and developed in 2006 as a tourist area...
, a lake south of Markkleeberg
Markkleeberg
Markkleeberg is a town in the Leipzig district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Pleiße, approx. 7 km south of Leipzig.In 1813 much of the Battle of Leipzig took place where today's Markkleeberg is situated....
, a suburb on the south side of Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. A former open-pit coal mine, the lake was flooded in 1999 with groundwater and developed as a water recreation area. The lake is part of the Leipziger Neuseenland
Neuseenland
Neuseenland is an area south of Leipzig, Germany, where old open-cast mines are being converted into a small lake district. It will be finished approximately 2012.It contains: * 3 ex-surface minings in the north of Leipzig....
, the largest landscape construction project in Europe, which is reclaiming formerly barren industrial and mining sites for recreational use.
The whitewater park was planned as part of Leipzig's bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
, which were ultimately awarded to London. It was completed in time to serve as a training facility for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. With movable plastic bollards serving as water diversion features, it was possible to rig the competition course to be a close duplicate of the one at Beijing's Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park
Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park
The Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park is the new, purpose-built venue for the rowing, canoeing and 10 km open-water swimming events in the 2008 Summer Olympics. It is located in Mapo Village in the Shunyi District in Beijing....
. Since formally opening in April 2007, the state-of-the-art Kanupark has hosted a full schedule of regional and international competitions. In 2010 it hosted the Junior and Under-23 European Championships.
Kanupark Markkleeberg has two courses which loop in opposite directions from the pump house. Each loop has its own conveyor-belt boat lift. The north loop is a training course 130 meters (427 feet) long, with a 1.8 meter (6 ft) drop, a 1.4% slope of 13.8 m/km (73 ft/mile), and a streamflow of 4 to 14 m³/s (141 to 494 ft³/s). The south loop is the competition course with a length of 270 meters (886 feet), a 5.2 meter (17 ft) drop, and a 2.1% slope of 21.1 m/km (111 ft/mile). With a streamflow of 4 to 18 m³/s (141 to 636 ft³/s), it generates class III-IV whitewater.
