On the map: Augustow Canal – a place for active recreation

When the weather is fine, it's time to get outdoors. Let's not think about anything else, take a ride on a boat or spin the pedals on a bicycle. In other words, something to keep the experience going for a long time. We invite you to take a virtual journey along the Augustow Canal and enjoy our Belarusian beauties.

When people talk about the Augustow Canal, the word "unique" is always added. A miracle of engineering. A moonshot project of the 19th century. One of the largest canals in Europe is on the preliminary UNESCO World Heritage List.

There are only three like this in the world: the Caledonian Canal in the UK, the Gota Canal in Sweden, and the Augustow Canal in Belarus. This is a truly unique site for its time: in the complexity of its engineering, its scale and, of course, in the natural beauty of these places.

The waterway with the total length of 102 km starts at Lake Serwy near Polish Augustow and runs almost all the way to Belarusian Grodno. The artificial waterways 45 km long have linked eleven rivers and seven lakes.

  

The idea for the canal dates back to the second half of the 18th century. In 1824, the Augustow Canal project was approved by Emperor Alexander I. The project took 15 years to complete. Twenty-nine culverts, eighteen sluices, twenty-one chambers, fourteen bridges, and twenty-four canal maintenance facilities were built.

It was originally planned as a transport artery for shipping wood and goods. However, by running through some of the most picturesque areas, the Augustow Canal became a tourist attraction. In 1909, the first hiking tour along the waterway was organized. Later, a horse-drawn route was opened.

The structure was seriously damaged during the last century's wars, but was reconstructed later. In 2004-2006, the Belarusian section of the canal was restored. Specialists restored the channel, which had not been used since the 1950s, eroded and collapsed areas, and ancient hydraulic structures.

Today, the Augustow Canal is a great place for outdoor activities, water tourism, hiking and cycling. The incredible natural beauty of the area attracts thousands of visitors.

The canal runs through the territory of the national landscape reserve “Grodnenskaya Pushcha”. It is not only one of the most environmentally pristine places in Belarus, but also the whole continent – Eurasia.

In addition, in the center of the reserve is the Augustovskaya Pushcha, which is one of the largest forest areas in Europe, located on the territory of three countries. It is a must-see destination!