laterální plavební kanál Mělník–Vraňany Water channel

The Latin Navigational Channel Mělník -Vraňany is a 10-kilometre canal in the district of Měník in the Central Bohemian Region, which allows safe navigation of large river ships. Its main purpose is to secure a voyage outside the dangerous currents in the last Vltava rapids before its mouth into the Elbe.

The canal was built between 1902 and 1905. During this period was also built Vrananský eat with the vore release where the canal begins. The project was created at the time of development of industrial infrastructure and modernisation of transport networks, which corresponded to technological progress at the time.

This water work is technically divided by the wall of Horín, which is declared a technical monument. The lock surpasses the difference of levels at a height exceeding eight metres and separates the channel to the top and bottom. The upper part of the canal has a length of over six kilometres, a width of 18 to 36 metres and a depth of 2.4 to 3 metres. Four panels are located along its length and at the beginning of the canal there is a door 20 metres wide to close the canal with large water. The lower part of the channel in the section Horín- Mělík has a width of 18 to 40 meters and a minimum depth of 2.5 meters. The operation in the channel is one-way and follows light signaling with a switch in Lužec nad Vltavou.

Eight bridges were built across the canal in the early 20th century. The bridge reconstruction took place between 2019 and 2021 to allow ships with superstructures up to 7 metres above the surface to pass through. This adjustment allows the transport of larger costs and large tourist ships to Prague without the need to dismantle their upper parts. During the reconstruction seven fixed bridges were rebuilt and four were reconstructed as lifting. Unique elements include road lifting bridges in Vrbín and Lužec, lifting stone bridge arch in Horín and the first railway lifting bridge in the Czech Republic near Lužec nad Vltavou. All of these structures are operated remotely from the Horín lock.

Between 2004 and 2006, a small hydropower plant was built on the Vráňanský jez with a horizontally located Kaplan turbine and a top installed capacity of 2,75 megawatt. Today, the channel is used not only by large ships, but also by water tourists when returning from Mělnik to Vráňan. The upper part of the canal is also occasionally used for rowing races on a long line.

This water work represents an important technical object with significant historical and practical benefits for navigation. It is advisable to visit it for a tour of unique bridge structures and modern water technologies.