Union Canal (Scotland)
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The Union Canal is a 50 km (31.5 mile) contour canal from Lochrin Basin in Edinburgh to Falkirk where it meets the Forth and Clyde Canal.
Originally used for transporting coal, competition from the railways caused it to close to commercial use in the 1930s. It is now used recreationally by canoeists at the Forth Canoe Club and rowers from schools and St Andrew's Rowing Club. The Edinburgh, Ratho and Linlithgow Canal Societies promote general use of the canal and hire rowing and long boats.
The Millennium Link joined the Falkirk end of the canal to the Forth and Clyde canal again in the year 2000 with the Falkirk Wheel. The other end, Lochrin Basin, is currently being redeveloped as Edinburgh Quay for commercial and residential use which has caused the relocation of Forth Canoe Club.
The soliton was first demonstrated on the Union Canal in 1838. The new aqueduct over the Edinburgh City Bypass was named after discoverer John Scott Russell.
It was built from 1818 to 1822. Two of its construction workers were the famous body snatchers Burke and Hare. It has one lock gate (just before the Falkirk Wheel) and Scotland's only canal tunnel.