Kiel Canal, Germany
The sea meets the farm in the quiet countryside of the north German state of Schleswig-Holstein. And, despite being in the middle of the state, sailboats and livestock can share a vista because of the Kiel Canal. Completed 109 years ago by workers under Kaiser Wilhelm III, the 100 km-long Canal connects the waters of the Baltic and North Seas. By cutting through Germany this way we saved hundreds of kilometres of travel around the top of the Jutland Peninsula – a fact that makes the canal’s tranquil waters popular with container ships, cruise ships, and many small pleasure boats. Along the verdant banks the countryside is crowded with dairy cattle, sheep, and other crops. Pictured is a herd of Holstein cattle, which take their name from the region.
On this last full day of our cruise through the Baltic, many of us spent time reflecting on the variety of cultures to which we’ve been exposed in the past fortnight. From palace to church to rocky bird cliff (and back to palace), we’ve seen a thick slice of northern Europe. Tomorrow we arrive in Amsterdam and begin our own homeward journey, or move off into other parts of Europe for further exploration.
The sea meets the farm in the quiet countryside of the north German state of Schleswig-Holstein. And, despite being in the middle of the state, sailboats and livestock can share a vista because of the Kiel Canal. Completed 109 years ago by workers under Kaiser Wilhelm III, the 100 km-long Canal connects the waters of the Baltic and North Seas. By cutting through Germany this way we saved hundreds of kilometres of travel around the top of the Jutland Peninsula – a fact that makes the canal’s tranquil waters popular with container ships, cruise ships, and many small pleasure boats. Along the verdant banks the countryside is crowded with dairy cattle, sheep, and other crops. Pictured is a herd of Holstein cattle, which take their name from the region.
On this last full day of our cruise through the Baltic, many of us spent time reflecting on the variety of cultures to which we’ve been exposed in the past fortnight. From palace to church to rocky bird cliff (and back to palace), we’ve seen a thick slice of northern Europe. Tomorrow we arrive in Amsterdam and begin our own homeward journey, or move off into other parts of Europe for further exploration.
