Canal des Deux Mers

The Canal des Deux Mers (English: Two Seas Canal) has been used to describe two different but similar things since the 1660s. In some cases, it is used interchangeably with the Canal du Midi. In others, it describes the path from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, of which the Canal du Midi was the first man-made component. [1][2]

Canal des Deux Mers
English: Two Seas Canal
Specifications
Length	Canal du Midi 240 km (150 mi) Garonne Lateral Canal 193 km (120 mi)
Locks	Canal du Midi 65 locks Garonne Lateral Canal 53 locks
History
Construction began	Canal du Midi 1666 Garonne Lateral Canal 1838
Date completed	Canal du Midi 1681 Garonne Lateral Canal 1856

Route

The route from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean includes, from west to east, in sequence:

• Enter the Gironde estuary from the Atlantic
• Gironde estuary is formed by the confluence of the Dordogne River and the Garonne River
• Gironde estuary continues into the Garonne River
• Garonne River connects to the Garonne Lateral Canal at Castets-en-Dorthe
• Garonne Lateral Canal terminates in Toulouse and connects to the Canal du Midi
• Canal du Midi begins in Toulouse, and there are two paths available from it to the Mediterranean.
• Path 1 - Turn off Canal du Midi and join the
  • Canal de Jonction which connects into the Aude River
  • Aude River connects to Canal de la Robine
  • Canal de la Robine flows into the Mediterranean
• Path 2 - Continue to end of Canal du Midi and continue into the
  • Etang de Thau which joins to the Canal du Rhone a Sete
  • Canal du Rhone a Sete flows into the Mediterranean
• Mediterranean

References

1. Jefferson, David (2009). Through the French Canals. Adlard Coles Nautical. p. 275. ISBN 978-1-4081-0381-4.
2. Midi Camargue Waterways Guide 7. Editions Du Breil. ISBN 2-913120-04-0.