Rhine-Marne Canal
Rhine-Marne Canal
(also Marne-Rhine Canal), a shipping canal in France connecting the Marne and Rhine rivers. Between the cities of Vitry-le-François and Strasbourg the canal follows the Ornain River. The Rhine-Marne Canal was constructed between 1838 and 1853. It is 316 km long and 2 m deep, and it has 178 locks. The canal is navigable by barges with carrying capacities to 300–350 tons. Its cargo turnover is more than 4 million tons a year. The freight consists mainly of building stone, iron ore, coal, and steel.