Hey there! Did you know that in the south of China, an amazing project is underway? Let’s dive into the exciting world of the Pinglu Canal! 🏞️
What’s the Pinglu Canal?
The Pinglu Canal is a brand-new waterway being built in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Stretching 134.2 kilometers (that’s over 83 miles!), it starts at the Xijin Reservoir in a place called Hengzhou, flows through a city named Qinzhou, and finally reaches the Beibu Gulf, which connects to the sea! 🌊
Why is it so special?
Well, this isn’t just any canal. It’s China’s first major canal that links inland waterways with the sea. That means ships from inside the country can travel all the way to the ocean without stopping! 🚢
The World’s Largest Water-Saving Ship Lock
But wait, there’s more! To help ships move between areas of different heights (yes, water can be at different levels!), the canal will have something called a ship lock. Think of it like an elevator for ships! 🛗
The Madao Junction is where the action happens. Because there’s a 65-meter (about 213 feet) difference between the inland water and the sea level, ships need help going up and down. So, they’re building the world’s largest inland water-saving ship lock here! It’s as long as three football fields, as wide as a 10-lane highway, and as deep as two giraffes standing on top of each other! 🦒🦒
Saving Water While Helping Ships
This special ship lock isn’t just big; it’s also environmentally friendly! It has three levels of water-saving chambers that save up to 60% of the water each time a ship passes through. That means less water wasted and more ships moving smoothly. How cool is that? 💧🌱
Why Does This Matter?
Once the Pinglu Canal is finished in 2026, it will help ships from southwest China reach the sea much faster, saving over 560 kilometers (that’s like skipping a 350-mile road trip!). This makes trading with countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) quicker and easier. It’s like opening a new superhighway for ships! 🛣️🌍
More Than Just Shipping
The canal isn’t just for ships. It will also help with water supply, irrigation (that’s helping plants grow!), flood control, and making the environment better. It’s a big step forward for the people living in the region and a boost for global trade! 🌾🚜
Wrapping Up
The Pinglu Canal is an incredible engineering project that shows how people can work with nature to make amazing things happen. Who knows? Maybe one day you’ll get to see it or even travel through it! 🌟
Thanks for reading, and stay curious! 🤓
Reference(s):
Pinglu Canal to feature world's largest Iinland water-saving ship lock
cgtn.com
