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The simplest way from Hamburg to Lübeck was over the Rivers Alster and Beste, as the rivers were only eight kilometers apart.
Since 1448, Hamburg was seeking a navigable connection between Hamburg and Lübeck. A canal could connect the rivers Alster and Beste to the Cities, both Hansestadt. Construction began in the same year with a contract between Hamburg and Count Adolf VIII. v Holstein.
However, after the upper Alster was canalized, the operators ran out of money so that the construction had to be abandoned in 1452.
When Hamburg, Lübeck and King Friedrich I. from Denmark had a agreement to finance the construction together, the Alster-Beste canal began in 1526 again. The actual canal was constructed in 1529. Neue Graben, "new cut," eight kilometers long, that leads from the Alster and over the Nienwohlder Moor at Sülfeld, to the Norderbeste.
The route Hamburg to Lübeck was 91 km long and possessed 23 locks. In the "Old Alster" were two locks, nine in the Stegen to Fühlsbuttel length, in the canal four, and in the Beste eight locks.
The canal undertaking was 40 km Alster mouth from Hamburg to Stegen. From there 8 km canal to Sülfeld. Then 15 km on the Beste to Oldesloe and 28 km on the Trave to Lübeck.
Since the flow was not enough over the summit to maintain a sufficient water-depth, the canal lasted to only 1549 and it then fell out of use again.
In the year 1550, traffic in the canal ceased because as the result of the
falling out of Detlev v. Buchwald, owner of the estates Borstel and Jersbek, and with both the "Hansestadt" Hamburg and Lübeck. He filled up the canal!
1550, the lock at Neritz (Neertze) was out of order, and was not repaired!
The canal barges, called Lastschuten, had a length from ca. 15 - 24 m and beam ca. 4,50 m.
These were towed from the towpath.
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