Elbe-Seitenkanal

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The Elbe-Seitenkanal (German, translates as Elbe lateral canal) is a 115 km long canal in Lower Saxony, Germany. It runs from the Elbe near Lauenburg/Elbe to the Mittellandkanal near Gifhorn. It forms an important transport connection between southern and northern Germany, and it provides a bypass of a section of the Elbe with limited navigability.

Construction of the Elbe-Seitenkanal was started in 1968, and the canal was opened in June 1976. Due to a dam rupture, it was closed from July 1976 until June 1977. The difference in elevation between the Mittelandkanal and the Elbe is 61 m, which is achieved by a lock (23 m) in Uelzen, and a boat lift (38 m) in Scharnebeck. There are small ports along the canal in Lüneburg, Uelzen and Wittingen.