Schipdonk Canal
Encyclopedia
The Schipdonk Canal is a canal in the Belgian
province of West Flanders. With a length of 56 km (34.8 mi), the canal runs in a northerly direction from Deinze
, turning to a north-western direction roughly halfway along its route to the North Sea
with which it meets on the coast near to Heist
. . It crosses both the Gent-Bruges Canal and for its final 20 km (12.4 mi) runs parallel with the Leopold Canal as it approaches the north Belgian coast. For most of this final section the two canals are separated only by a dyke
.
.
In the middle part of the nineteenth century the economy of the Courtrai region was dominated by the textile
industry, with the emphasis on linen
. The industry was the cause of heavy pollution which affected the Lys River. In order to divert the polluted water from the centre of Gent
, it was decided to cut the Schipdonk Canal which transported the pollution more diretly to the North Sea
, avoiding Gent in the process. A further benefit from the canal involved protecting Gent against the periodic flooding to which it had been subject. The third significant benefit was that the canal provided a relatively direct route for water transport from the industrially active Cortrai district to the North Sea.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
province of West Flanders. With a length of 56 km (34.8 mi), the canal runs in a northerly direction from Deinze
Deinze
Deinze is a city and a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Deinze proper and the towns of Astene, Bachte-Maria-Leerne, Gottem, Grammene, Meigem, Petegem-aan-de-Leie, Sint-Martens-Leerne, Vinkt, Wontergem and Zeveren. On January 1,...
, turning to a north-western direction roughly halfway along its route to the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
with which it meets on the coast near to Heist
Heist
A heist is a term used to describe a robbery from an institution such as a bank or a museum, or any robbery in which there is a large haul of loot.Heist in fiction may refer to:*Heist , directed by David Mamet...
. . It crosses both the Gent-Bruges Canal and for its final 20 km (12.4 mi) runs parallel with the Leopold Canal as it approaches the north Belgian coast. For most of this final section the two canals are separated only by a dyke
Levee
A levee, levée, dike , embankment, floodbank or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall, which regulates water levels...
.
History
The digging of this canal took place between 1846 and 1860. Along with the Leopold Canal it was one of the first major infrastructure projects following the creation of an independent BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
In the middle part of the nineteenth century the economy of the Courtrai region was dominated by the textile
Flax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
industry, with the emphasis on linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
. The industry was the cause of heavy pollution which affected the Lys River. In order to divert the polluted water from the centre of Gent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, it was decided to cut the Schipdonk Canal which transported the pollution more diretly to the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
, avoiding Gent in the process. A further benefit from the canal involved protecting Gent against the periodic flooding to which it had been subject. The third significant benefit was that the canal provided a relatively direct route for water transport from the industrially active Cortrai district to the North Sea.