1895day.year
The Kiel Canal, crossing the base of the Jutland peninsula and the busiest artificial waterway in the world, is officially opened.
The Kiel Canal officially opened on June 20, 1895, linking the North Sea and Baltic Sea and becoming the world’s busiest artificial waterway.
Constructed by the German Empire to avoid the longer route around Denmark, the canal spans nearly 100 kilometers across the Jutland peninsula. Its opening cut maritime travel time significantly and provided strategic naval advantages. Commercial and military ships quickly adopted the shortcut, boosting trade and military mobility. Over the 20th century, the canal was widened and deepened to accommodate larger vessels. Today it remains a vital corridor for global shipping and a marvel of late-19th-century engineering.
1895
Kiel Canal
Jutland