The busiest artificial waterway in the world, Kiel Canal was opened by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1895. It runs a length of 61 miles from the locks in Kiel Holtenau to the locks in Brunsbüttel. Some 43,000 commercial ships and 20,00 private yachts pass this way between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea yearly. The volume and diversity of the shipping is extraordinary, with masts flying flags from around the world. The canal passes under numerous bridges, including the Levensau High Bridge dating from 1893. Amongst the bustle there's a sense of peace as well – the banks of the canal are often wooded and rural with vistas of the agricultural countryside of Schleswig-Holstein. Large cruise ships cannot pass through this canal due to clearance limits under bridges, so your sailing is a special chance to witness the action and beauty of Kiel Canal.
