Water bridge

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Magdeburg Water Bridge in Magdeburg, Germany (completed in 2003).

The Dundas Aqueduct on the Kennet and Avon Canal near Bath, England carries the canal over railway and river. The walls of the aqueduct can be seen on left and right, the river and railway are unseen below the aqueduct. Completed in 1805.

A water bridge is a type of bridge which contains water and so allows boats to cross obstacles such as roads, rivers or valleys. Locks are often used at each end to raise and lower ships. The difference between a water bridge and an aqueduct is that an aqueduct is used to transport water from place to place, while a water bridge uses water for the transportation of shipping. However the word aqueduct is still sometimes used to mean a bridge carrying shipping.

The largest water bridge in Europe is the Magdeburg Water Bridge where the Mittellandkanal crosses the river Elbe. Other European canals to utilize water bridges include the Elbe-Seiten Canal, Main-Donau Canal, Oder-Havel Canal and Dortmund-Ems Canal.