Ostroda-Elblag Canal

Ostroda-Elblag Canal, also known as "Elblaski" is a unique water system connecting several western Mazurian lakes with Vistula Bay. Thanks to this canal you can overcome almost 100-meter, naturally occurring in this region, difference in the levels of water with the aid of the system of locks and slipways. The latter are built of rails lifting devices powered mechanical by the water flow.
Ostroda-Elblag Canal is technically the most interesting and unique worldwide water route canal.

It consists of three major sections with a total length of 129.8 km and with many side branches. These include lakes and navigable rivers’ sections running to the Druzno lake and Vistula Bay. The total length of the entire water system is 147 km. The canal was designed by Dutch engineer George Jakob Steenke and built in years 1848-1872.

A large part of the canal crosses throung exceptionally charming surroundings. The most incredible thing of this waterway is 5 slipway, thanks to which a ship can sail around 2 km on the dry land. Only two such canals have been built. Elblaski Canal is unique in the world, because other similar waterway - Canal Morissa (New Jersey, USA) - has not been active for a long time.

Ostroda-Elblag navigation organizes trips through the canal. The trip allows to see precisely the way how the ships dock, to take part in the "ship trip on the grass", as well as to familiarize with the vertical movement of the ship using locks. From the deck you can see the surrounding natural environment. One can acquiaint with Ostroda-Elblag Canal most precisely by taking part in the trip on the route from Ostroda to Elblag, or vice versa. Ships take up to 65 persons and have two decks. Upper, which is not covered, provides an excellent view and the possibility of sunbathing, while the lower deck is an extensive room shielded from sun and rain with buffet and lavatories. It is also possible to sail on smaller ships, 36 and 12 person each, which operate only on Drweckie Lake in Ostroda.