A canal in Paris is in the process of being drained for the first time in 14 years. The Canal Saint-Martin, which is popular with Parisians and visitors alike for its arched bridges, locks and well-connected surrounding neighbourhood, will be emptied. Workers have begun the draining process and will then move on to removing the waste, which has been building up throughout the years and is currently sitting among the thick mud, along with rubbish and obscure objects that are awaiting retrieval. The last time the canal was drained, those in charge of the cleaning removed 40 tonnes of waste, including at least one car.
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A combination picture showing the Canal Saint-Martin before the start of its draining on December 29, 2015 and during the clean-up operation in Paris (Charles Platiau/ Reuters)
Completed in 1825, on the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte, who wanted cleaner drinking water for the people of Paris, the 191-year-old canal will be closed until the beginning of April.
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A combination picture shows the Canal Saint-Martin before the start of its draining on December 29, 2015 and during the clean-up operation in Paris, France (Charles Platiau/ Reuters)
At 4.5 kilometres (2.8 miles) in length, the canal connects the Canal de l'Ourcq to the River Seine, running underground between Bastille and République.
An abandoned mud-covered scooter is found during the draining of the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris, FranceCharles Platiau/ReutersA cyclist walks by the canal Saint Martin in Paris during a drainage and cleaning operation that reveals many discarded bicyclesPatrick Kovarik/Getty ImagesA diver checks the installation of a metallic barrier at the Jaures lock during the draining of the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris, FranceCharles Platiau/ReutersAn office chair and a shopping trolley are found in the canal Saint Martin in Paris during a drainage and cleaning operationPatrick Kovarik/Getty ImagesWorkers remove fish from the canal Saint Martin in Paris, before a drainage and cleaning operation beginsPatrick Kovarik/Getty ImagesSeagulls paddle in the water around a suitcase in the canal Saint Martin in Paris on 6 January during a drainage and cleaning operationPatrick Kovarik/Getty ImagesAn abandoned mud covered scooter is seen during the draining of the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris, FranceCharles Platiau/ReutersWorkers remove fish from inside a lock on the canal Saint Martin in Paris on 5 January before a drainage and cleaning operationPatrick Kovarik/Getty ImagesAerial view of workers removing fish from inside a lock on the canal Saint Martin in Paris, FrancePatrick Kovarik/Getty ImagesA toilet bowl floats aimlessly in the Saint Martin canal in ParisPatrick Kovarik/ Getty ImagesA worker carries a catfish removed from the canal Saint Martin in ParisPatrick Kovarik/ Getty ImagesPeople watch the Jaures lock is opened, letting the canal water drain out as the clean-up continuesCharles Platiau /ReutersA worker carries a fish in a net after it was removed from the canalPatrick Kovarik/ Getty ImagesA bicyle is submerged in the mud of the canal Saint Martin in ParisPatrick Kovarik/ Getty ImagesA worker shows a fish removed from the canal Saint Martin in Paris, before a drainage and cleaning operationPatrick Kovarik/ Getty ImagesA man, working on the Saint Martin clean-up, wades through the mud as walks in the canal Saint Martin in Paris on January 6, 2016 before a drainage and cleaning operationPatrick Kovarik/ Getty ImagesA duck paddles near a Velib public use bicycle in the canal Saint Martin in Paris, FrancePatrick Kovarik/ Getty ImagesWorkers remove fish from the canal Saint Martin before the water is drainedPatrick Kovarik/ Getty Images
