King Wilhelm Channel (Klaipėda Channel)

The channel starts along Lankupiai, where it branches from Minija river, then flows north-east through Dreverna, finally reaching Klaipėda, where it connects to Malkų Bay along the Container Terminal and Western Shipyard. There is a hydrogeological reserve.
The construction of the channel was planned for 1858 and was supposed to connect Minija and the Curonian Lagoon along Dreverna, and then be extended to Smeltė village in 1860. It was named after the Prussian King Wilhelm I, who reigned at that time. The channel is 25-27 km long and 28-30 m wide, with the average depth of 1.7 m. The purpose of this construction was to protect the ships and rafts from dangerous storms of the Curonian Lagoon. In the 19th c., the channel was actively used for transporting wood. In the case of storms, it was also used by vessels, carrying various goods.
The water level in the channel was controlled in Lankupai with the Lankupiai lock (sluice), built in 1864, which is currently an acknowledged monument of Lithuanian technology. The second lock of Dreverna was built in 1873. The water level used to be monitored by four stations: one in Dreverna, established in 1870, two in Lankupiai, established in 1871, and one in Smeltė, established in 1875.
In 1902-1904, the King Wilhelm Channel was crossed by 10 light-weight metal bridges, tops of which used to be equipped with about one metre wide openings for masts and steamboat chimneys.
In the Soviet era, the channel in Klaipėda was dammed and turned into a water reservoir. Currently (2018), the water of the channel is used by the 3rd water supply system of Klaipėda.

Compiled in 2018