Ronquières Inclined Plane Lock/ Sluice

A sluice / Lock operating on the principle of a ramp, on which cassettes of water move on the rails, carrying barges and other inland sailing vessels. The construction started in March of 1962 year, and the work lasted until April 1968 year, when the official opening took place. This ramp is located on the Brussels-Charleroi channel, in the province of Hainaut. It owes its name to a small town near which it was built. The lift was constructed to carry boats weighing up to 3150 tons. It was supposed to replace fourteen old locks and thus shorten the time needed to travel this section of the canal.