On a cloudy day in Paris, a crowd has gathered to watch what is going on at the Canal Saint-Martin. Everyone couldn’t take their eyes off the scene that was unfolding in front of them. As the authorities drained the river, they all wanted to see the murky waters recede. What had been lurking in the canal’s waters for so long? After two centuries, they discovered things about the canal that they had not anticipated. What exactly did they find down there?
They Were Astounded By What The Water Revealed After Draining A 200-Year-Old Parisian Canal
It Was Time To Drain It
The authorities examined them as the murky waters receded. It’s not every day that the secrets of the ocean’s depths are discovered. Residents learned about a new chapter in the city’s history as the building’s floor became visible. Let’s pretend that none of them expected to find themselves in this situation.
It Was Time To Drain It
An Important Source Of Water
The canal stretches for 4.5 kilometers. After Napoleon Bonaparte approved the project, it was completed. The purpose of this canal was to provide safe drinking water to Paris’s 550,000 residents. However, he was well aware that the population would almost certainly continue to increase in the future.
An Important Source Of Water
A Lot More To It Than That
He also hoped that having clean water would aid in addressing the city’s health problems. There were numerous reports of cholera and dysentery at the time. The Canal Saint-Martin runs for nearly three miles through the city. At the time, it also delivered food and construction materials to Parisians all over the city.
A Lot More To It Than That
Its Fascinating History
In the decades that followed, two more canals were built for the same purpose. Authorities were constructing the Canal Saint-Denis and the Canal de l’Ourcq. The latter had a width of 3.4 meters and a length of 108 kilometers. It connected Port-Aux-Perches to the Bassin de la Villette, where it met the Canal Saint-Martin. It helps to keep in mind that they’re all hundreds of years old.
Its Fascinating History
During The French Revolution
The most well-known of the three is the Canal Saint-Martin. It ran beneath the ground from the Arsenal Basin to the Place de la Bastille. Many people know the latter as pivotal events in the French Revolution, which lasted from 1789 to 1799. An unexpected attack on the prison occurred here. It has a long and fruitful history, as you can see. People were curious to see what lay beneath the surface for this reason.
During The French Revolution
What The Canals Are Like Now
The canal is now a popular tourist attraction for both locals and visitors. Young Parisians frequently congregate along the Seine’s banks and in nearby cafes. Tourists, on the other hand, prefer to take pictures of famous buildings and bridges. Why, then, did the authorities decide to drain the water from it?
What The Canals Are Like Now
All The Weird Things At The Bottom
In its two centuries of existence, the canal has seen a lot of changes. Authorities attempt to empty it every ten to fifteen years. Everything that had accumulated at the bottom would be removed. This was not, however, a typical cleaning job. What was it about this era that made it so unique?
All The Weird Things At The Bottom
The Draining Procedure
Paris, also known as the City of Light, conceals a plethora of important secrets. Some of them were obscured by the canal’s murky waters. Parisians were intrigued by what lay beneath their beloved Canal Saint-Martin. From afar, the draining operation could be seen. If they went there, what would they find?
The Draining Procedure
Waste From The First World War
In 2001, the canal was drained for the first time. At the time, they were able to remove over 40 tons of waste from the water. Among the fascinating finds were bullets, bombshells, and gold pennies from the First World War. Not only that, but a car from the same era was also discovered. That hasn’t happened in a long time. What else could they find in the water?
Waste From The First World War
How Much It Cost Them
The massive task of draining the canal began. The removal of approximately 3 million cubic feet of water would take three months. It was necessary, even though the city had to spend more than $10 million on it. The crowd was curious to learn what had been hidden in the canal for so long…
How Much It Cost Them
People Gathered To Look
On January 7, they drained the canal’s remaining water. The secrets of the waterway were finally revealed after 15 years. People from all walks of life were drawn to the bridges. They wanted to investigate what the authorities had found out. Curiosity was killing everyone.
People Gathered To Look
A Surreal Moment
It must have been a huge event. After all, you don’t get to see the Canal Saint-Martin without any water every day. People were in awe of what they were seeing. It was strange to see the canal’s bottom. What was on the canal’s floor piqued their interest.
A Surreal Moment
The Living Things In The Water
The workers had to drain the canal until there were only 50 centimeters of water left. They waded through the canal, looking for the items and living “things” that had made themselves at home there. The working crew caught around five tons of carp, trout, and bream! The fish were then relocated to better breeding grounds. They carefully weighed and identified the fish before relocating it. Even if the new location wasn’t ideal for them, it was still better than the alternative.
The Living Things In The Water
People Threw Garbage Into The Water
Various everyday objects were found in the water’s depths. Bicycles were among the items on display. They were from the city’s Vélib car-sharing system, as it turned out. In 2007, the program added approximately 14,500 bikes to the city’s streets. Sadly, they ended up in strange places.
People Threw Garbage Into The Water
The Most Bizarre Findings
As the drainage process progressed, more items emerged. There were mopeds, bicycles, and wheelie bins at the canal’s bottom! There was also a toilet down there. It was critical to get it back because it had contributed to the canal’s murkiness. It was thought that its presence there was amusing. This wasn’t the only unexpected find down there, though. Larger objects were also discovered at the bottom.
The Most Bizarre Findings
How They Must Have Gotten There
Marc, a witness, told The Guardian, “It’s like some weird submarine treasure.” He added, “I can’t believe the quantity of Vélibs there. I guess they were stolen and thrown in afterward. It’s bizarre.” Furthermore, bicycles were not the only unusual items that made it to the bottom.
How They Must Have Gotten There
Paris Is Filthy
An onlooker called Bernard said, “That’s Paris for you.” “It’s filthy,” he added. In recent years, it appears to have gotten worse. He was also present the first time the well was drained. “The last time, I don’t remember seeing so much rubbish in it,” he shared. “I despair. The youth are using it as a dustbin.”
Paris Is Filthy
Even Weirder Than The Bikes
If you thought bicycles were strange, wait until you hear that they also recovered a pair of motorcycles from down there. Who knows how those objects ended up there? We’re hoping someone will come forward and explain what happened to them. Things just got weirder and weirder from there.
Even Weirder Than The Bikes
So Much Trash
They didn’t find only alive creatures and strange objects down there, of course. It was expected that some items would be discovered. Examples include shopping bags, traffic cones, and glass bottles. None of the findings seemed to pique anyone’s interest. The unusual items piqued everyone’s interest, and they were eager to talk about them!
So Much Trash
A Random Office Chair
To begin with, none of them had any idea how an office chair had ended up there. The discovery was met with skepticism by the witnesses. Is it possible that this was delivered to the 10th arrondissement by an office worker? The theory may seem absurd to you, but just thinking about it made us smile.
A Random Office Chair
There Was A Suitcase
Coming up with theories about how these things got there is a lot of fun. As they continued to drain the water, another interesting item emerged from beneath the murkiness. At the canal’s bottom, they came across a rather revolting suitcase. Is it there because someone tossed it there?
There Was A Suitcase
A Traffic Cone
This is yet another odd item that has people scratching their heads. A crew member had no choice but to retrieve this traffic cone from the canal’s base. Who knows where it came from. We’re going with a vandal who felt compelled to destroy the evidence as quickly as possible.
A Traffic Cone
A True Shopping Destination
A shopping trolley was also found on the Canal Saint-Martin floor. People’s interest in the story was piqued as a result of this. Did a shopper accidentally push their car into the canal after loading their bags into it? In any case, this suggests that Paris is a fantastic shopping destination.
A True Shopping Destination
Save The Fish
Workers drained the water from the Canal Saint-Martin until there were only 20 inches of water left. First and foremost, they needed to get the fish to safety. The cleanup crew fished for carp, trout, and bream for three days in the water. They apprehended the creatures and relocated them to another part of the river.
Save The Fish
Swimming There Might Be Possible
Even though seeing the trash in the canal was depressing, there is still reason to be optimistic. The discoveries brought the city’s littering problem to light. Authorities took advantage of the opportunity to discuss the situation. “If everyone mucks in and avoids throwing anything into the water,” said Celia Blauel when she spoke to the MailOnline, “we might be able to swim in the canal in a few years.” She’s the deputy mayor.
Swimming There Might Be Possible
It Was An Expensive Process
If the waterway had not been drained, no one would have realized how serious the problem was. The canal area is considered prime real estate. It came at a high cost to the Parisians. Only real estate properties near the arrondissement command prices as high as $9,000 per square foot. We’re sure they had no idea these things were so close to their homes.
It Was An Expensive Process
Why The Area Is Expensive
The waterway has always been lush and attractive, which contributes to the property’s high price. Several artists have cited it as a source of inspiration. The bank’s walls are covered in street art, and it has a large multimedia space dedicated to artwork.
Why The Area Is Expensive
It Took Two Decades
Over the course of two decades, all three canals were dug across the length of Paris. When combined, they cover a distance of more than 80 miles. The Canal Saint-Martin is the most well-known of the three. It connects the Seine River and the Canal de l’Ourcq over a distance of 68 miles.
It Took Two Decades
Both Tourists And Parisians
The Canal Saint-Martin has drawn both Parisians and tourists since its inception. It’s always had a certain allure about it. They’ve all taken a close look at the badges. They were also capable of navigating through all of the locks and road bridges that they encountered along the way.
Both Tourists And Parisians
The Amazing Nightlife
If you’re familiar with Paris, you’re probably aware of the vibrant nightlife scene in the Canal Saint-Martin area. The once quiet neighborhood would now attract a large number of young people. Many people assumed that this would just add to the amount of waste in the canal. In 2016, they discovered if this was the case.
The Amazing Nightlife
Construction Of The Canal
Napoleon I, the French emperor, ordered the canal’s construction to begin in 1802. At the time, Paris had a population of around 550,000 people. That figure did not appear to be decreasing any time soon. The waterway, Napoleon believed, would bring fresh water to the city and improve the health of the citizens.
Construction Of The Canal
The Route
The canal runs from the Basin de l’Arsenal on the Seine to just below La Bastille. The latter is the site of a French Revolution-era prison that was destroyed. It then appears near the Place de la République before ascending to the north to the Bassin de la Villette. There, it meets the Canal de l’Ourcq.
The Route
Strange Things In The Water
What was the first thing that piqued your interest? Just in case you forgot, they discovered chairs, shopping carts, suitcases, trash cans, toilets, bicycles, and motorcycles at the bottom. In addition to the previously mentioned items, there was a vintage stereo on the floor. When you go there, you never know what you’ll find.
Strange Things In The Water
Way Too Many Bottles And Cans
While draining the water from the Canal Saint-Martin, they discovered a large number of cans and bottles. Do you know how many people there were? We have our doubts that you answered the question correctly. After all, they discovered hundreds of thousands of these things down there.
Way Too Many Bottles And Cans
How Long It Is
The three-mile-long Canal Saint-Martin runs through the heart of the capital. It passes through the arrondissement of the 10th, which is known for being a fashionable area. The area’s nightlife and tourist attractions have recently gained popularity. On your next trip to the City of Lights, don’t miss it!
How Long It Is
More Interesting Finds
More and more items were unearthed and discovered in the murky water as crowds gathered by the canal to get a good look at what was going on. Once every 10-15 years, the canal is drained and cleaned, giving the public plenty of time to toss, lose, and drop all kinds of strange items into the water. An old-school stereo is sunken on the muddy ground here. We’re left wondering how it got there in the first place.
More Interesting Finds
Crowds Gathering
It’s understandable that the locals would be interested in learning more about the draining and cleaning process – after all, who wouldn’t be? Onlookers gathered around the canal as workers continued their work, watching the whole thing unfold. Maybe Parisians were looking for a long-lost item in the midst of the chaos? Maybe they were just looking for a relaxing form of entertainment that included some time spent outside? We’re sure we’d enjoy watching such an event.
Crowds Gathering
Vintage Items
Even though this procedure is repeated frequently, given the canal’s age, vintage items such as this camera are still discovered during the cleaning. It’s perplexing to consider how these items came to be at the bottom of the canal in the first place, especially given that they predate the canal’s last cleaning. For all we know, people drop things in the canal on a regular basis, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Somehow, there are always items discovered that are older than expected.
Vintage Items
Sentimental Discoveries
As the canal’s 90,000 cubic meters of water are drained, more and more items appear and are discovered. You’d expect to find old and filthy items, and you’d be right. There were, however, some other, more surprising discoveries. Take, for example, this stuffed animal. It appears to be relatively new in comparison to everything else we’ve seen so far. The contrast between the almost clean stuffed animal and the grimy motorcycle beneath it is almost chilling in this photograph.
Sentimental Discoveries
Anger Management
If you ask us, this photo paints a complete picture. To be honest, you could make an entire story out of it. The muddy chair, submerged in the murky water… It’s completely covered in moss… When you think about it, it’s quite haunting. Again, our thoughts stray to various scenarios that could have resulted in this chair being thrown into the canal in the first place. Could it have been a tense situation? Is it possible that it was a tragic accident? There are a plethora of options.
Anger Management
Lengthy Ordeal
Workers must spend hours making sure everything goes according to plan as the water is slowly drained into the River Seine. From relocating fish that had gotten into the canal to renovate the canal’s four double locks completely. Of course, any worn-out small parts must be replaced as well. The entire procedure would take about three months to complete from start to finish.
Lengthy Ordeal
Team Effort
Given this project’s scope, it’s only natural that a large number of people will be involved in its completion. As can be seen in this photo, dozens, if not hundreds, of workers are involved in ensuring that everything is completed correctly and efficiently. Not to mention without jeopardizing anyone’s safety. While machinery is used for the majority of the project, individuals are also responsible for several tasks that their equipment cannot complete.
Team Effort
Heavy Lifting
It’s a risky process to go through because so many things can go wrong at any time. This is the first time the canal has been drained since 2001. It’s understandable that such an event would be exciting, given that it occurs only once every decade or so. To take on such a massive task, the workers must make numerous preparations. It is not easy for the municipality to acquire all of the necessary machinery and equipment.
Heavy Lifting
Other Locations
Now that we’ve seen what happens in the Parisian canal every decade or so, it’s only natural that other countries clean out their water sources and drains on a regular basis. When cleaning drains and pipes in the United Kingdom, many strange things have been discovered. In fact, there are some items you wouldn’t expect to find in such a location. Let’s take a look at some of the items discovered by drain cleaning companies.
Other Locations
Animals
No one is accusing anyone of intentionally harming animals, but what is one of the most common items found in drains? Animals, to be precise. This isn’t limited to the United Kingdom; it occurs all over the world. Not just small animals like cats and dogs, but also larger animals such as cows and sheep! Many different animals have been rescued unharmed from drains. There are reports of alligators prowling the sewers in the United States, but most people dismiss this as an urban legend.
Animals
Solid Gold
Although sewers are designed to collect waste, not everything that ends up there is worthless. In Japan, for example, workers at a treatment facility received 5 million yen in gold in 2009. They were sifting through sludge when they discovered the precious metal. They were able to use the metal because of the large number of precision equipment manufacturers in the area. They discovered 1,890 grams of gold per ton of garbage!
Solid Gold
Luxury Watches
There is more luck in the sewers than we are aware of. In England, a drain technician named Aaron Large discovered four luxury watches in the drains in 2012. They weren’t ordinary timepieces. They included a £21,000 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph in 18-carat gold, as well as another Rolex and two other high-end pieces that he discovered a few days later. The owner of one watch was eventually found, but the other three were unfortunately fakes. Despite this, Aaron received a bonus from his boss for his efforts.
Luxury Watches
Half A Car
When it comes to sewers and drains, some blockages are more serious than others. For example, in 2014, a drain cleaning company discovered half of a discarded Mini car, making it one of the largest items ever found in London. While an impressive achievement, unblocking the capital’s sewers that year cost a total of £70 million. We’re sure whoever parked that car regretted it.
Half A Car
Random Jaw Bones
No matter how much time people spend examining and studying items found in sewers, some of them are unable to be identified. That was the case in 2009 when a mysterious jaw bone was discovered in a sewer in Canada. The bone could have come from a variety of herbivorous creatures. Bone discoveries aren’t as surprising in Canada because the country has a higher-than-average distribution of dinosaur remains. Finding a bone in a completed tunnel, on the other hand, is more unusual.
Random Jaw Bones