Centre, Canal du

a navigation canal in France. The Canal du Centre links the Saóne River at the city of Chalon-sur-Saóne with the Loire River, via the Loire Lateral Canal at the city of Digoin. It is 127 km long and has many locks. Built in the late 18th century, the canal carries approximately 0.5 million tons of freight annually, chiefly building materials, coal, and metals.