The Falkirk Wheel, Scotland - an amazing piece of engineering

I visited this a week ago and thought you might like to see it.















I quote:
The world’s only rotating boat lift, The Falkirk Wheel links the Forth & Clyde Canal to the Union Canal 35 metres above, allowing vessels to sail through the sky thanks to a unique fusion of art and engineering – and the same power it would take to boil eight kettles.

Transforming the contaminated site of a former tar works, The Falkirk Wheel opened in 2002 and replaced a flight of 11 locks that once stepped the Union Canal down to the level of the Forth & Clyde, more than 100 feet below. Whereas weary travellers once had a day’s heavy work opening and closing 44 lock gates to complete the journey between the two canals, The Falkirk Wheel allows vessels to transit between the two waterways in just a few minutes.

A video from the internet should you like to see it in motion...

 

That's wonderful, people using the canal must be very pleased to have it.

 

Brilliant. I love that they had the confidence to build something completely unique.

 

I went on this in the late 00's. It is amazing and a great day out .

 

You wouldn't get me on it @SherwoodArrow I don't like heights.

 

The power needed to lift the boats is the same amount it takes to boil a kettle.

 

The power needed is the equivalent of boiling eight kettles @waterbut.

 

Possibly a stupid question but why is the two ends that strange shape, I can only think it has something to do with balance.
Maybe makes the start of the turning process easier?
Any one know, @Sheal .

 

I quote from the designer @pete ...

"There are 3 pieces that make up the wheel: the two tubs or “gondolas” where boats enter; the two arms which support the tanks; the central axis which acts as the pivot of the rotation".

There are actually four arms, two for each gondola.

 

Yep, but why that shape?

 

According to Wiki @pete they are decorative and symbolic only...

The wheel has an overall diameter of 35 m (115 ft) and consists of two opposing arms extending 15 m (49 ft) beyond the central axle and taking the shape of a Celtic-inspired double-headed axe.[30][31][32] Two sets of these axe-shaped arms are connected to a 3.8 m (12 ft) diameter central axle of length 28 m (92 ft).[33] Two diametrically opposed water-filled caissons, each with a capacity of 250,000 litres (55,000 imp gal; 66,000 US gal), are fitted between the ends of the arms.[23]

 

OK, thanks, I just wondered if it had any use regarding balance and loading, but just for fun then.