Falkirk Wheel
Basic information
Rotating boat lift, connects the Forth & Clyde and Union canals 35m metres above, which allows coast to coast navigation across central Scotland.
It is the only rotating boat lift of its kind in the world and one of two working boat lifts in the United Kingdom, the other being the Anderton Boat Lift.
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.
The wheel itself is 35 meters tall and raises boats by 24 meters. Since the Union Canal is 11 meters higher than the wheel, there are two locks that boats must pass through after the trip on the wheel.
The 600 tonne gondolas hold 500,000 litres of water, the Wheel only uses 1.5kWh of energy to turn.
Work started in 1998, opened in 2002 by Queen Elisabeth II as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Half birthday 
Next half birthday falls on
Age in different time units
Planet Age
How old Falkirk Wheel would be if it was started on a different planet
- 8 days from now, May 8, 2026, Falkirk Wheel celebrate exactly 210,000 hours
- 22 days from now, May 21, 2026, Falkirk Wheel celebrate 39th Venus age
- 25 days from now, May 24, 2026, Falkirk Wheel celebrate 24th birthday
- 55 days from now, June 23, 2026, Falkirk Wheel celebrate 100th Mercury age
- 86 days from now, July 24, 2026, Falkirk Wheel celebrate exactly 290 months
- 143 days from now, September 19, 2026, Falkirk Wheel celebrate 101st Mercury age
- 189 days from now, November 4, 2026, Falkirk Wheel celebrate 13rd Mars age
- 208 days from now, November 22, 2026, Falkirk Wheel celebrate 25th half birthday
- 231 days from now, December 16, 2026, Falkirk Wheel celebrate 102nd Mercury age
- 246 days from now, December 31, 2026, Falkirk Wheel celebrate 40th Venus age