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canals - events| 610 | China, Sui Empire | The first stretch of the Chinese Grand Canal, which will ultimately stretch 1,000 km/620 mi and link Beijing with the Chang Jiang River, is opened. | | 1289 | China | The Chinese Mongol ruler Kublai Khan completes the extension of the Chinese Grand Canal (originally completed around 605), linking Beijing with the Chang Jiang River. | | 1642 | France | The Briare Canal linking the Loire and Seine rivers (begun in 1604) is completed. A staircase of seven locks in sequence is the most advanced piece of canal engineering in Europe. | | 1761 | UK | English engineer James Brindley completes the Duke of Bridgewater's Canal between Manchester and the Worsley collieries in northern England; it is the first British canal of major economic importance. | | 1766–1777 | UK | English engineer James Brindley begins work on the Grand Trunk Canal linking the Trent and Mersey rivers. It crosses the Pennines by the Harecastle tunnel and will establish a water route between the North Sea and the Irish Sea. | | 1784 | Germany | The German River Eider is linked to the Baltic by canal; it becomes the prototype canal for international ship traffic. | | 25 October 1825 | USA | The canal boat Seneca Chief opens the Erie Canal. Linking the Great Lakes with the Hudson River, it opens the Midwest to settlement. | | 1855 | USA, Canada | The Sault Ste Marie Canal, between lakes Superior and Huron, is completed. It bypasses the St Mary's River rapids and makes the Great Lakes a navigable waterway. | | 17 November 1869 | Egypt | French diplomat and engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps completes the 168 km/105 mi long Suez Canal in Egypt that links the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and which reduces the route from Europe to Asia by 8,000 km/5,000 mi. | | 25 November 1875 | UK, Egypt | Britain buys 176,602 shares in the Suez Canal linking the Mediterranean with the Red Sea from Khedive Ismail of Egypt, the canal being a vital part of the route to India. | | 10 November 1892 | Central America, France | The Panama Canal financial scandal breaks in France and the canal's builder Ferdinand de Lesseps and his associates are committed for trial for corruption and mismanagement. | | 15 August 1914 | Panama | The Panama Canal opens to traffic. One of the world's greatest engineering feats, it is 81.6 km/50.7 mi long and saves 12,800 km/8,000 mi on the trip around South America. It cost $366,650,000 and around six thousand workers died during its construction. |
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