Chapter 326 “Central Canal” Project

What Constantine said about sending the Ndebele people to the east to dig canals was not just talk, but a huge project that had completed geological survey and was ready to start.

The East African government named this project the "Central Canal" project, which mainly connects the three major rivers in the Central Province and develops its shipping value.

The three main rivers from north to south are the Wami River, the Little Rhine (Rufu River) and the Rufiji River.

Among them, the Wami-Little Rhine extends from the semi-arid Dodoma region to the inland swamps of the Morogoro region, continues to the coastal cities, and finally reaches the Bagamoyo region, with a drainage area of ​​approximately 62,000 square kilometers. The Wami River Basin covers an area of ​​approximately 43,000 square kilometers, and the Little Rhine River Basin covers an area of ​​approximately 18,000 square kilometers. There are about 12 lakes with an area larger than 0.1 square kilometers in the basin, and the famous Morogoro National Park and Sadani National Park in Tanzania are also in this basin.

This basin was a relatively economically developed area in Tanzania in the previous life. Tanzania's largest city, Dar es Salaam, and the capital, Dodoma, are both located in this basin.

Similarly, it is also the most developed region in East Africa. The first town and city, Dar es Salaam City, Bagamoyo City, three of the top ten cities in East Africa, and Dodoma City, the capital of Plateau Province, so The potential for future development is huge.

The Rufiji River Basin was the largest river basin in Tanzania in the past, with a drainage area of ​​approximately 177,400 square kilometers, accounting for one-fifth of the country's total area. The Rufiji River is also the largest river in Tanzania. The basin provides about 25% of Tanzania's renewable water resources. In addition, the basin's altitude ranges from 0 meters in the Indian Ocean to about 3,000 meters in the mountainous areas of the Mbeya region, and the climate changes from the tropical humid east to the temperate southern highlands.

The river sections to be developed in East Africa are mainly concentrated in the middle and lower reaches of these three rivers, in areas with relatively gentle terrain, that is, in the eastern coastal plains.

After the completion of the project, it will cover an area of ​​approximately 70,000 square kilometers in the three river basins. People and logistics can be transported through the canal, opening up the two main lines of transportation in the central province.

…

May 3, 1871.

Palace of Werther.

The chief designer of the canal project, Austrian hydraulic engineer Vaskov, introduced the construction plan of the "Central Canal" project to Constantine and East African officials on the sand table.

Vaskov: “Currently, our plan is to build a forty-seven-kilometer-long canal from the upper reaches of the Little Rhine to connect the middle reaches of the Rufiji River, and then connect the Rufiji River through Lake Nazka in the east of Mpanga, so that the Rufiji River The river water can flow into the Little Rhine naturally along the terrain."

Konstantin: "Mr. Vaskov, from the sand table, it looks like there are two rivers flowing into the upper reaches of Lake Nazka. So the terrain here should be sloping from northwest to southeast. Shouldn't the water of the Little Rhine River flow into the Rufiji River? "

Vaskov gestured to the sand table and said: "Your Majesty, the area where the Rufiji River flows is generally higher than the Little Rhine River. The terrain of the Little Rhine River Basin is quite special. The northwest is an extension of the East African Plateau, and the Rufiji River Basin in the south is It is also higher than the Little Rhine Basin, so the Little Rhine as a whole is a depression in East Africa.

However, as you said, the terrain in the upper reaches of Lake Nazka is obviously tilted from northwest to southeast. After all, it is common sense that water flows downwards. But east of Lake Nazka, this terrain is reversed. Encountering the lower-lying Little Rhine Basin, the area where Lake Nazka is located is like a highland, becoming the watershed between the Little Rhine River and the Rufiji River.

So we only need to open an opening in the northeast direction of Lake Nazka, and then dig a channel to divert water from this highland into the Little Rhine Plain to solve this problem. "

Everyone looked at the place where Vaskov's fingers were pointing. The effect displayed on the sand table was a whole plain. However, after Vaskov's personal on-site inspection, he found that although it was a plain, there was also a certain terrain difference. .

Constantine: "So the terrain here does not hinder the excavation of the canal?"

Vaskov: "That's right. Compared with Austria, the terrain difference here is nothing. We only need to dig one or two meters deeper from the southern Nazka Lake to the Little Rhine Plain to ensure the canal's safety." In normal operation, a distance is about three kilometers, and the amount of work will not increase too much."

Constantine: "Then deepen."

Anyway, it was the natives who dug the canal, so Constantine didn't feel any pain at all when using it.

Vaskov continued: "The above is the southern line project of the Central Canal, which mainly connects the Rufiji River with the Little Rhine River. Regarding the northern line project, connecting the Little Rhine River and the Wami River, there are currently two plans. Your Majesty still needs your help. Let’s decide.”

Constantine: "Let's talk about it first."

Vaskov: “The first option is to build a river channel along the coast at the lowest reaches of the two rivers, so as to connect the Little Rhine and Wami. However, in this case, it will be parallel to the shipping route, and the distance between the two will be Being too close (refer to the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal) is a bit difficult to build.”

Constantine: "What about the second option?"

Vaskov: “The second option is to dig a northwest-southeast canal inland, near Morogoro, and connect the Little Rhine and Wami Rivers by taking advantage of the terrain differences. However, this line will follow the Ulugulu Mountains. It will be built in the plain area on the east side of the project, and its length is almost twice as long as the first plan. The project volume is large and the technical requirements are higher."

Constantine asked: "Can it technically meet the requirements?"

In this regard, Vaskov was full of confidence: "Your Majesty, I have rich experience in Austria. I believe you also know the terrain in Austria. The terrain conditions there are much more complicated than the coastal plains of eastern Africa. Building a canal in this area , like building a canal in Hungary, it is not a big challenge, but from the perspective of economic interests, I prefer option one. After all, the east is more developed, and the length of the canal is shorter and the construction cost is lower."

Constantine: "This matter cannot be focused on the present. Although the cities in the east are relatively mature at present, with the development of East Africa, the inland development is also very fast. As for the two options, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Can we Build two canals at the same time?”

Vaskov: "Theoretically it is feasible, but this will make the cost of building the canal high and require a lot of manpower."

The translation of Vaskov's words is to be prepared for a large number of manpower to die because of the doubled work.

"Hahaha!" Constantine sneered: "Don't worry about this. I have prepared a lot of manpower for the construction of the canal, but it will take time for them to get here. We can first build the canal section with the least difficulty and the least amount of work. Construction is complete.”

Vaskov did not care about this. There must be no shortage of slaves in East Africa. He said: "The least difficult one is the first plan to connect the Wami River to the Little Rhine River. As for the smallest project, it is to connect the Little Rhine River to Rufi." The canal from the Ji River, if you consider it from all aspects, the canal from the Rufiji River to the Little Rhine River best meets your requirements."

Constantine: "Then let's build the canal from the Rufiji River to the Little Rhine first, and then the canal from the Wami River to the Little Rhine, and then think about it after we have the people."

The Central Canal Project has a total length of approximately 180 kilometers and is divided into three sections, which is the same length as the Suez Canal. It connects the Little Rhine, Wami River and Rufiji River.

The canal from the Wami River to the lower reaches of the Little Rhine is called Canal No. 1, the canal from the Wami River to the upper reaches of the Little Rhine is called Canal No. 2, and the canal from Lake Nazka in the middle reaches of the Rufiji River to the upper reaches of the Little Rhine is called Canal No. 3. canal.

Among the three sections of canals, the last two canals flow to the Little Rhine. After completion, in addition to improving navigation conditions, they can also provide irrigation water to areas along the line, further enhancing the development potential of the three river basins.