Neatorama » Falkirk Wheel http://www.neatorama.com The Neat Side of the Web Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:25:40 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The Surreal Appeal of the Falkirk Wheel http://www.neatorama.com/2009/06/29/the-surreal-appeal-of-the-falkirk-wheel/ http://www.neatorama.com/2009/06/29/the-surreal-appeal-of-the-falkirk-wheel/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:14:01 +0000 Queuebot http://www.neatorama.com/2009/06/29/the-surreal-appeal-of-the-falkirk-wheel/

The people of Falkirk, Scotland needed to connect two waterways, but there was one big problem.  The difference in height between the two measures about the same as an eight story building.  The solution?  A pretty amazing rotating boat lift, the only one of its type in the world:

The Scottish capital city, Edinburgh and its second city, Glasgow, had no water based connection for seventy years. It wasn’t until almost the dawn of the new century that this situation was reconsidered and the idea of the Falkirk Wheel was taken seriously and put in to action.

Now the wheel, as well as a connector between the two cities, is a remarkable and awe-inspiring tourist destination in its own right. However, if it wasn’t for the prodigious gambling habits of the British people this amazing structure would never have been built.

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From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by taliesyn30.

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