Marseille Canal
| Canal de Marseille | |
|---|---|
The canal just before Roquefavour Aqueduct | |
| Country | France |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 80 km (50 miles) |
| Geography | |
| Direction | South |
| Start point | Durance |
| End point | the areas of Marseille |
| Beginning coordinates | 43°41′28″N 5°23′10″E / 43.691°N 5.386°E |
| Ending coordinates | Various |
The Canal de Marseille (French pronunciation: [kanal də maʁsɛj]; Occitan: Canal de Marselha) is a major source of drinking water for all of Marseille, the largest city in Provence, France. The canal, along its main artery, is 80 kilometres (50 mi) long and has additional 160 kilometres (99 mi) of minor arteries. Its construction lasted 15 years and was directed by the engineer Franz Mayor de Montricher. The canal became functional on July 8, 1849.
The canal was a significant achievement of 19th-century engineering, combining bridges, tunnels and reservoirs over mountainous terrain. Until 1970, it was almost the sole water source for Marseille, and it still provides two-thirds of the city's drinking water.