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Lithuanian: Ventos–Dubysos kanalas Windawski Canal
Specifications
Locks	20
Status	Abandoned
History
Date closed	1831

Windawski Canal (Lithuanian: Ventos–Dubysos kanalas) is an abandoned canal connecting the Dubysa River near Bazilionai, Šiauliai district with the Venta River near Tolučiai Šaukėnų, Kelmė District of Lithuania.

History

Construction and Abandonment (1821-1831)
In 1821 Prussia introduced repressively high customs duties for transit of Polish and Lithuanian goods through its territory, practically blocking the access to the sea for Polish traders operating outside of Prussian territory. The idea of Polish Minister of Economy, Franciszek Ksawery Drucki-Lubecki, was to make the new trade route independent of the Prussian seaports of Danzig (Gdańsk) on the Vistula River and Memel (Klaipėda) on the Neman River, and link the center of the Kingdom of Poland with the Baltic seaport of Ventspils (Polish: Windawa).

The canal was designed and built in two sections, the first being the Augustów Canal, located in then the Augustów Voivodeship of the Kingdom of Poland, providing a direct link between the Vistula River, through the Biebrza River – a tributary of the Narew River, and the Neman River, through its tributary – the Czarna Hancza River. The final "Windawski" section of the waterway (Windawski Canal), which was to connect the Neman River, through its tributary – the Dubysa River, with the Venta River located in the Kovno Governorate of the Russian Empire. The canal was based on the Kartuva rivulet.

The canal was relinquished due to November Uprising against Russia and trade agreements with Prussia.

The work was interrupted by unrest caused by the Uprising of 1831 against Russia and trade agreements with Prussia.

Vindavsky channel. Among the tributaries. Ventspils on the right side before and absented Vindavsky channel was dug between Ventspils and Dubissoy and by which the Niemen and the Dnieper linking the Baltic to the Black Sea. This is not brought to end by water should have been sent to the home port Vindavsky goods, going along the Neman abroad. Together with the channel was assumed to be dug V. sewerage p. Ventspils and Dubissy. Originally conceived were working during the time of the duchy were discharged French engineers, but neither of these initiatives have failed, in 1796, were drawn up detailed projects connecting Riga, Libau and Ventspils in the Neman. Last port in every respect has been given precedence in order to p.. Ventspils connect and Libau by canals and rivers Binz, Vartan and Alanda. Prior to 1823 did not start a project Vindavsky channel in the same year were made the final estimate, which feed rivers and sewage systems have been worth about 12 million. In Dubissy had to pass the bypass channel and the connecting channel in the watershed, near Bubya, it was supposed to arrange a nutrient pool at a height of 30 ft. above the level of p. Ventspils and 84 p. above the level of p. Dubissy. This pool however was to serve as a winter port of the river fleet and the main share destination of goods. In addition, the pool should have been arranged for 5 others. On the calculation of water flow should not exceed 375,000 cubic meters. blacks., as its stock was 3 million cubic meters. blacks., not counting the many small streams and lakes. Thresholds bl. Goldingena should be avoided in two channels. In 1825 he was started to work with so that they were completed in 1832 for these works were otryazheny troops and in 1828 a large portion of the channel Dubysa and Ventspils had already been cleaned and deepened, bypass and coupling of channels almost dug, pool with the bridge bl. Bubya almost finished, the dam at the river. Ventspils is raised above the water horizon, the mass of brick, limestone and granite hewn a lift. In 1829 worked for the troops was added more than 3000 civilian workers, and it seemed a grand patriotic is coming to fruition. But unfortunately at this time of troubles began in the region, hindering the work, and then at the request and insistence of the Prussian government compound Niemen with the Russian port of not only held on to 1832, but in 1831 all work on W. Canal have been suspended; Yet the later attempts to revive their shattered Political considerations. Remains of huge work on the sewer Ventspils and dug W. Canal and now preserved on the road from Shawel in Taurogi , although the channel was covered with wood, and brick and hewn granite, first plundered with impunity, now part of the consumed with the highest resolution on the device of Orthodox churches in the province. Wed Bar. v. Wittenheim, "Ueber Russlands Wasserverbindungen" (2 ed. Mitau , 1842), "Ventspils and Libau (" Northern Herald, 1885), Oranovskii, Courland Province; Burzi, "Military statistics Kurland province."; Rathlef, "Skizze"; Stuckenberg, "Hydr." I; "Mittheil. Aus der Geschichte v. Liv-Est und Kurland".

construction restart
The work resumed only at the beginning of the 20th century but was interrupted again by the World War I. After the war there was no purpose for the canal as Lithuania gained control over the Klaipėda Region and lower reaches of Neman.

Canal infrastructure

The canal is 15 km in length and was designed to have 20 locks.

Reference

• [1]
• Jackiewicz Mieczysław, "Litwa: podróż sentymentalna", Warszawa 2006
• Otto, Bon von Wittenheim; "Ueber Russlands Wasserverbindungen" (2nd Edition, Jelgava, 1842) (in German)
• Ventspils and Libau "Виндава и Либава"; (Severny Vestnik, 1885)
• "Виндава и Либава" ("Северный вестник", 1885 г.), Орановский, "Курляндская губерния"
• Бурзи, "Военная статистика Курляндской губ."
• Rathlef, "Skizze"; Stuckenberg, "Hydr." I; "Mittheil. aus der Geschichte v. Liv- Est und Kurland".