The longest canal in world is the Grand Canal, located in China. Also known as the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal, it is the longest artificial waterway ever built by humans and one of the greatest engineering achievements in world history.
Overview of the Longest Canal in World
Name: Grand Canal (Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal)
Country: China
Total Length: Approx. 1,776 km (1,104 miles)
Construction Started: 5th century BC
Major Expansion: Sui Dynasty (6th–7th century AD)
UNESCO Status: World Heritage Site (2014)
The Grand Canal is not only the longest canal in world but also one of the oldest canals still in use today.
Situated in China is the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, prevalently known as the Grand Canal. It is the longest canal in world, and it is additionally a visitor goal. Along these lines, we should find out about the Grand Canal here.
Location:
Beijing-Hangzhou is the longest canal in world and also the oldest canal or artificial river in the world. Starting at Beijing, it passes through Tianjin and the regions of Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang to the city of Hangzhou, connecting the Yellow River and Yangtze River.
The most seasoned pieces of the waterway go back to the fifth century BC, yet the different areas were first associated during the Sui dynasty (581–618 AD). Lines in 1271–1633 fundamentally remade the channel and modified its course to supply their capital Beijing.
The canal extends more than 1,100 miles from the city of Beijing to the city of Hangzhou. It is at times called the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal. Other than associating these two noteworthy urban areas, the waterway likewise interfaces the two noteworthy streams of China: the Yellow River and the Yangtze River.
Reason To Build Grand Canal:
The canal was worked so as to effectively ship grain from the rich farmland in southern China to the capital city in Beijing. This additionally helped the rulers to nourish the warriors guarding the northern outskirts.
History Of The Grand Canal:
The Grand Canal’s most established segments follow their history to the fifth century BCE. Be that as it may, a few segments of the channel were first connected together somewhere in the range of 581 and 618 CE during the Sui line.
Both the Ming and Yuan traditions essentially reproduced the channel to modify its course with the goal that it could supply Beijing, which was their capital.
Together with its present-day course, 14 centuries of developing the Grand Canal have left it with a few authentic segments. While a portion of the segments has vanished, there are others that still exist however are in part surviving.
Different segments structure the premise of the present day-channel. Probably the most noteworthy segments incorporate the Yilou Canal, Jizhou Canal, Huitong Canal, Jia Canal, Duke Huan’s Conduit, and the Nanyang New Canal.
Length And Height Of Grand Canal:
The Grand Canal’s all-out length is around 1,104 miles while its most noteworthy stature is at 138 feet at the summit of the Shandong Mountains.
Following the creation of the pound lock in the tenth century, Chinese waterways never had an issue with achieving higher rises.
The pound lock was built by Qiao Weiyue a specialist and government official somewhere in the range of 960 and 1279 during the Song Tradition.
Numerous individuals have appreciated the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal since its commencement including the Persian history specialist Rashid al-Din, the Italian minister Matteo Ricci, the Japanese priest Ennin, and the Korean authority Choe Bu.
Impact Of The Grand Canal:
Generally, the consistent flooding of the Yellow River did not just undermine the working of the Grand Canal yet additionally its security. The Yellow River’s high barriers during wartime were some of the time purposefully broken with the goal that it would flood foe troops that were propelling the region. Because of these occasional floods, the area experienced delayed financial hardships and catastrophe.
Despite brief neglect and destruction periods, the channel has cultivated a local and developing monetary market in the urban focuses of China since the Sui time frame. The Grand Canal has additionally encouraged quicker exchanging which turn has improved the economy of China. The trench’s southern part stays in incredible use until today.
Route of the Longest Canal in World
The Grand Canal stretches from:
Beijing in northern China
toHangzhou in southern China
It passes through several provinces and major cities, including:
Tianjin
Hebei
Shandong
Jiangsu
Zhejiang
The canal also connects major rivers like the Yellow River, Yangtze River, Huai River, and Hai River.
Interesting Facts About The Grand Canal:
- Students of history gauge that the most seasoned segment of the channel was worked around the sixth century BC.
- Emperors would once in while travel along the Grand Canal to investigate the locks.
- It is assessed that it took more than 45,000 full-time workers to keep up the trench during the Ming Dynasty.
- The canal was additionally utilized as a dispatch course for conveying significant government messages.
- During the 1400s, the Chinese government worked more than 11,000 grain scows on the trench to transport nourishment toward the north.
- The Grand Canal likewise demonstrated to be a phenomenal wellspring of charges for the Chinese government.
- Parts of the trench fell into dilapidation after the Yellow River overwhelmed in 1855.
- The pound lock was designed during the Song Dynasty in 984 AD to help raise and lower the water dimension of the trench.
Comparison With Other Famous Canals
| Canal Name | Country | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Canal | China | 1,776 km |
| Suez Canal | Egypt | ~193 km |
| Panama Canal | Panama | ~82 km |
| Corinth Canal | Greece | ~6.4 km |
The Grand Canal is far longer than any other canal in the world.
FAQs:
Q. Which is the longest canal in world?
A. The Grand Canal of China is the longest canal in the world.
Q. How long is the longest canal in world?
A. The Grand Canal is approximately 1,776 kilometers long.
Q. In which country is the longest canal in world located?
A. The longest canal in world is located in China.
Q. Is the Grand Canal still in use today?
A. Yes, several sections of the Grand Canal are still used for transportation, irrigation, and tourism.
Q. Is the Grand Canal a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
A. Yes, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
Q. When was the Grand Canal built?
A. Construction began in the 5th century BC, with major expansion during the Sui Dynasty.
Conclusion
The Grand Canal of China holds the title of the longest canal in world, stretching nearly 1,800 kilometers. Beyond its sheer size, it represents thousands of years of human innovation, economic development, and cultural integration. Its continued use today highlights its lasting importance in global history.
