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How does the Main-Danube Canal connect the Rhine River to the Black Sea?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Physical map of Western and Central Europe highlighting the drainage basins and networks of the Rhine, Rhone, and Seine rivers. The map shows river courses, major tributaries, canals, elevation changes with color shading, international boundaries, and key cities such as Paris, Lyon, Basel, and Rotterdam. A locator inset in the upper left corner places the main map within Europe.
Rhine River

The Main-Danube Canal serves as a vital commercial waterway that connects the Rhine River to the Black Sea by linking the Main and Danube river systems.12

The route functions as follows:
* Connection to the Rhine: The canal begins at Bamberg on the Main River, which is a tributary of the Rhine.12
* Artificial Waterway: From Bamberg, the route proceeds via an artificial waterway—including a section of the Regnitz Canal—to Dietfurt, and then follows the Altmühl River.2
* Connection to the Danube: The route joins the Danube River near Kelheim.12

Completed in 1992, this 171-km (106-mile) canal allows traffic to flow between the North Sea and the Black Sea, creating a 3,500-km (2,200-mile) integrated waterway across Europe.12