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Schaalsee Canal

Schaalsee Canal

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Schaalsee Canal

Recommended by 117 hikers out of 133

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Location: Schmilau, Herzogtum Lauenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

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Best Hikes to Schaalsee Canal

4.6

(31)

125

hikers

1. Küchensee hike

11.5km

03:00

80m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.8

(617)

2,344

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2. Farchau Mill – Farchauer Mill Canoe Dock loop from Farchau

8.29km

02:12

80m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.8

(615)

2,315

hikers

3. Farchauer Mill Canoe Dock – Farchau Mill loop from Inselstadt

7.56km

01:59

60m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

Marius

July 7, 2025

The Schaalsee Canal has connected Lake Schaalsee with Lake Ratzeburg since 1925 and supplies the Farchau hydroelectric power plant. Its approximately six kilometers long overcomes a difference in elevation of approximately 30 meters. The canal was built after the First World War, when hydropower regained importance for energy generation. Lübeck had similar plans as early as the 16th century. Today, the canal flows quietly, partly underground, through the landscape.

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JR56

January 20, 2019

The Schaalseekanal is an artificial watercourse that connects the area of the Schaalsee with that of the Ratzeburg lake. It serves as a power plant channel for the Farchau hydropower plant

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were also efforts in Schleswig-Holstein to use water power to generate electricity and thus promote industrialization. In 1909, the first planning of a hydropower plant that should use the waters of the Schaalsee area began. However, due to the cost, this project was not carried out. It was only with the defeat of the German Empire in World War I and the associated cession of territory that hydropower became interesting again compared to imported coal. In the spring of 1923, the construction of the Schaalsee Canal was decided by the district council. Construction began in the winter of the same year and was completed in 1925. This artificially changed the watershed between the North and Baltic Seas. The Schaalsee now also drains via the Ratzeburger See, Wakenitz and Trave into the Baltic Sea.

As early as 1588, the city of Lübeck was considering a connection between Schaalsee and Ratzeburger See in connection with the Wallensteingraben as part of a connection from the Elbe to Wismar as a competing canal to the Stecknitz Canal.
The Schaalseekanal is about 6 km long and runs below ground level for the first 3 km after leaving the Salemer See and then for a further 3 km as a heaped dam. The canal ends at the Farchauer Mühle at the southern end of the Küchensee near Ratzeburg. The difference in altitude is 30 m and has been supplying the Farchau hydropower plant since December 1925.
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schaalseekanal

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R🅰️ndn🅾️tiz

January 10, 2019

Unfortunately, the canal is not passable because it was designed as a hydroelectric power plant. Behind the power plant, however, you can paddle wonderfully several kilometers to the Schaalsee.

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Details

Informations

Elevation -20 m

Weather

Thursday 15 January

11°C

4°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 6.0 km/h

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Location: Schmilau, Herzogtum Lauenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Farchauer Mühle Canoe Dock

Pinnsee

Forest Trail Between Buchholz and Ratzeburg

Bat Bunker in Farchauer Forest

Scenic Forest Path by the Lake

Ratzeburg Cathedral

Steg mit Bank am Lütjensee

Farchauer Mühle Hotel & Restaurant

Rocks on the Shore of Lütjensee

Schaalsee Canal

1. Küchensee hike

2. Farchau Mill – Farchauer Mill Canoe Dock loop from Farchau

3. Farchauer Mill Canoe Dock – Farchau Mill loop from Inselstadt

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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