The Falkirk Wheel is the spectacular centrepiece of the £84.5 million âEUR~Millennium Link’, the UKâEUR(TM)s largest canal restoration project, developed by British Waterways to reconnect the Union Canal with the Forth & Clyde Canal, re-establishing east to west coast access for boats.

The difference in the levels of the two canals at the wheel is 24 metres, roughly equivalent to the height of an eight storey building. The structure is located near the Rough Castle Fort and the closest village is Tamfourhill. On 24 May 2002, Queen Elizabeth II opened the Falkirk Wheel as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations. The opening had been delayed by a month due to flooding caused by vandals who forced open the Wheel’s gates.

Links

• Official Falkirk Wheel Homepage
• Wikipedia
• TechEBlog: The World’s First and Only Rotating Boat Wheel