White Sea–Baltic Canal

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The White Sea–Baltic Canal (Russian: Беломо́рско-Балти́йский кана́л, romanized: Belomórsko-Baltíyskiy kanál), often abbreviated to White Sea Canal (Belomorkanal), is a man-made ship canal in Russia. Opening on 2 August 1933, it connects the White Sea, in the Arctic Ocean, with Lake Onega, which is further connected to the Baltic Sea. Until 1961, it was called by its original name: the Stalin White Sea–Baltic Canal (Belomorsko-Baltiyskiy Kanal imeni Stalina). The canal was constructed by forced labor of gulag inmates. Beginning and ending with a labor force of 126,000, between 12,000 and 25,000 laborers died according to official records, while journalist Anne Applebaum's estimate is 25,000 deaths. The canal runs 227 km (141 mi), partially along several canalized rivers and Lake Vygozero. As of 2008, it carries only light traffic of between ten to forty boats per day. Its economic advantages are limited by its minimal depth of 3.5 m (11.5 ft), inadequate for most seagoing vessels. This depth...

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