[Dmander]

The Falkirk Wheel opened at Tamfourhill in Falkirk, Scotland, on May 24, 2002. Queen Elizabeth II formally opened the rotating boat lift as part of the Millennium Link project, which restored a waterway connection across central Scotland.

The wheel links the lower Forth and Clyde Canal with the route to the Union Canal. It raises boats 24 meters, or 79 feet, while two additional locks provide another 11 meters of elevation to reach the Union Canal. The structure replaced a flight of 11 locks that had been filled in by the 1930s.

Two counterbalanced gondolas carry boats and water as the wheel turns. Each gondola holds about 300 tonnes, and a half-turn takes about 15 minutes. The approximately 35-meter-diameter structure has arms shaped like a Celtic-inspired double-headed axe. It was designed by a team led by Tony Kettle, with work by Arup and Butterley Engineering.

Views show the wheel, its gondolas and gear teeth, the upper aqueduct, boats in the lower basin, and the visitor center. Several views capture the structure during rotation and with tour boats inside the gondolas.

[andee]

OMG fantastic!

[Kazoo]

[Dylan R]

I remember seeing this on TV. how awesome

[vnathan]

Woah that is impressive!

[RedneckR0nin]

That is fucking wild.

[collaredgirl65]

Cool. Would love to see this in person.

[chiefTbon]

yeah .. that's cool

[commondenom]

[WindBag]

watched a documentary on it. really cool