The Canal Latéral à la Loire was built between 1827 and 1838 and connects the Canal de Briare at Briare at its northern end to the Canal du Centre at Digoin at its southern end.
The locks are all built to the Freycinet standard of 38.5m x 5.2m and are all operated by lock keepers other than 16bis and 16ter at Decize which are automatic and operated by lock users.
The canal is 196km in length and only has 40 locks plus two on the link to la Loire at Decize. This is because it follows the Loire valley which has a relatively small gradient.
It was built to replace the River Loire which used to provide the link between the Canal de Biriare and Canal du Centre. Navigation of the Loire was always problematic because of flooding in the winter and low water in the summer months.
Aqueducts were built to cross the River Allier at Le Guétin and the River Loire at Digoin. Due to the length required the Briare aqueduct wasn't built to cross the River Loire River at Briare until 1896.
There are four arms: Embranchement de Châtillon, Embranchement de St-Thibault, Embranchement de Givry and Embranchement de Nevers. There is also a link to Decize port and the River Loire at Decize. Apart from the locks on the Embranchement de Givry the locks on the arms are shorter at 30.4 metres.
Écluse 1 - Digoin (3.90m)
The depth of this lock varies as it drops the canal down to the basin of the port of Decize which joins the River Loire through écluse 16ter.
There is no real English equivalent of the suffix 'bis' but the closest would be to say the second lock number 16. In English we would probably say 16b or equivalent.
The depth of this lock varies as it drops the canal down to the River Loire which, as a river, fluctuates in level.
There is no real English equivalent of the suffix 'ter' but the closest would be to say the third lock number 16. In English we would probably say 16c or equivalent.
Écluses 16 - 40: No pictures
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