| HISTORY |
The idea to regulate the Morava River was reawaken
again about 1927. At that time, this idea captured the industrial
magnate Tomáš Baťa. After his tragic death, Jan Antonín Baťa took
that daring plan five years later. The regulation of the Morava River
as well as the construction of the Canal had some important advantages
for the Bata Company. In addition to the realization of an old dream
to interconnect the European large streams, it was the transport
of lignite from the mines in Ratíškovice to the factories and heating
plants in Otrokovice, because the railway transport was too expensive,
and also the construction of the melioration system around the Morava
River. The construction, which was demanding as to its organization
and technique, was running between the years 1934 and 1938. The total
length of the navigation section was 58,1 km from which 1 km led
through the riverbed of the today’s not more navigable Dřevnice River
and some sections were led through the Morava riverbed. The Canal
could be used by boats with the tonnage of 150 tonnes, the navigation
depth was 1,5 m. The navigation line began in Otrokovice and ended
nearby Rohatec, at the place of lignite reloading. The boats had
to pass 14 locks that helped them to heal the water-level height
differences. At each lock, there was built a small house for the
operator, to which small homestead belonged. In addition to the locks,
a lot of other technically demanding equipments had to be constructed
– for example the railway drawbridges or the weirs with automatic
regulation of barrage water-level. A part of those devices was destroyed
during the war, a part came to the end of their operational life
and was not renewed; some of the device, however, have survived up
today. Interesting is, for example, the waterway crossing in Vnorovy.
The Canal intersects the Morava River here and its water-level is
some meters higher than the river. Therefore, under the river’s bottom
is hidden the piping that ensures the same Canal’s water-level past
the crossing as it was prior to it. The irrigation system consisted
of many flumes through which the water was discharged to the adjacent
land. In many locations, the irrigation did not catch on more or
less and moreover, the regulation showed even the negative consequences
resulting in drying up of some parts of the countryside.
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| VESSEL HIRE AND OTHER SIGHTS AROUND THE BATA-CANAL |
Landing place at Kroměříž Landing place at Spytihněv Landing place at Babice + refreshment Landing place at Staré Město Houseboat Hire Office Uherské Hradiště What to visit in the environs The Town of Kroměříž – town with rich history and memories, the
most known are history gardens and castle, which are on list of
world heritage of UNESCO Landing place at Uherský Ostroh Ranch Mississippi River Landing place Veselí nad Moravou Landing place Observatory Veselí nad Moravou Landing place Vnorovy Landing place in Strážnice What to visit in the environs: The Museum of the South-Moravian
Village – a show of folk architecture
of individual regions of Moravian Slovakia; therefore, the area
is divided into the units presenting the corresponding regions,
Landing place Sudoměřice – Tippler Landing place Skalica Landing place Rohatec Landing place Hodonín What to see in the environs. Plže at Petrov – the state conservation area – unique historical
wine-cellars from the 15th century. Upon reservation, it is possible
to see the wine-cellars and to taste the wine..
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| DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS ON BATA-CANAL |
Bata-Canal, benevolent company was established in 2002 and it shields
the entire waterway essentially. Its activity is to ensure the
operation, to coordinate the activities of state administration
bodies, local self-government authorities and entrepreneurs,
to promote the waterway at travel movement fairs, in mass media,
to publish the promotion materials and to support the business
activities along the Bata Canal. It operates the Bata-Canal Information
Centre. Until recently, the benevolent company’s activities have
been financed by the fees provided by towns and villages grouped
within the charitable fund “The Agency for the Tourism Development
on the Bata-Canal”. After its activity had been terminated, within
the territories of the Region of Zlín and the South-Moravian
Region the voluntary associations of communities were founded,
which – among others – shield the financing of activities on
the Bata-Canal. Those two associations - Association of municipalities
for development of Bata-Canal and a water way on the River Morava
on the Region of Zlín and Municipalities for Bata-Canal on the
South-Moravian Region cooperate with the benevolent company.
The main objective is to utilize the tourism potential of this
waterway in a more effective way and to develop it. The activity
of the Bata Canal, benevolent company is founded by the South-Moravian
Region and the Region of Zlín.
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| BATA-CANAL INFORMATION CENTRE |
It provides the complete information concerning the tourist opportunities on
the Bata-Canal (leisure time activities, offer of cruises along the entire
waterway), the waterway operation (lock operation, navigability, obstacles
and repairs), the legislation (authorization and regulations) and manages the
server
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| THE RULES APPLIED ON THE WATERWAY |
Bata-Canal is an important and for traffic used waterway, 0. class. Without licence,
it is possible to drive small vessels with the output up to 20 kW that are
capable just of displacement navigation. That means a person older than 18
years can drive the vessel without a special permit or licence; the hire-office
staff provides the training for vessel operation. Private vessels can enter
the Bata-Canal without restrictions and fees. The vessel size is limited by
the lock sizes. Slide navigation is prohibited on the entire Bata-Canal and
the Morava River. The highest speed of 5 km/h is allowed on the Canal! The
waterway is possessed by the state and managed by the company Povodí Moravy,
s.p. When navigating, it is necessary to adhere to the certain ruled and to
follow the navigation signs. The accidents are to be reported to Státní plavební
správa ( The State Navigation Authority). |
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