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barge
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Ruhr region Civil engineering Canal du Midi Suzhou, Jiangsu province, China: Grand Canal A large barge with multiple cargo sections travels on the Mississippi River in Louisiana, with a steel truss bridge spanning the river in the background. Rhine River St. Lambert Lock A large cargo barge travels along the Volga-Don Canal in southwestern Russia, with a steel arch bridge and lock structure visible in the background. Tugboat guiding a barge.
Behold a barge-carrying ship transporting a load down the Mississippi River
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Ruhr region
Ruhr region Barges moored at Duisburg, North Rhine–Westphalia, Germany, near the junction of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers.

A barge is a roomy, usually flat-bottomed boat primarily used for transporting goods on inland waterways. These boats are typically propelled by towing. The term "barge" can also refer to a large motorboat for a flag officer or a luxuriously furnished pleasure boat. Historically, barges have been instrumental in canal construction and operation, utilizing technologies like locks and inclined planes to manage water level changes. Modern barges can carry substantial tonnage, with powerful towboats capable of hauling many barges simultaneously, making water transport competitive for bulk commodities. The word "barge" also exists as a verb, meaning to move heavily or clumsily, or to thrust oneself forward unceremoniously.12345

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6 Britannica Sources
  1. barge
  2. barges
  3. canals and inland waterways - Technological development
  4. barge
  5. canals and inland waterways - Economic significance
  6. canals and inland waterways - Inland waterway craft

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