The Saimaa Canal is inaugurated

The Saimaa Canal is a significant waterway located in Finland, connecting Lake Saimaa to the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. It is one of the most important artificial canals in Finland and plays a crucial role in the country’s transportation network.

Location: The Saimaa Canal is situated in southeastern Finland. It starts at Lake Saimaa in the city of Lappeenranta and extends to the town of Vyborg (Viipuri) on the Gulf of Finland, near the Russian border. The canal traverses the Karelian Isthmus.

Construction: The idea of building a canal to connect Lake Saimaa to the Gulf of Finland dates back to the 19th century when Finland was still part of the Russian Empire. Construction of the canal began in the late 19th century and was completed in several phases. The canal officially opened for traffic in 1856, and it has undergone multiple expansions and improvements since then.

Length and Dimensions: The Saimaa Canal is approximately 42.9 kilometers (26.7 miles) long. It consists of a system of locks and artificial channels that allow vessels to navigate from Lake Saimaa, which is situated significantly above sea level, to the lower-lying Gulf of Finland. The canal includes several locks, including the largest one at Mälkiä, which has a significant elevation difference of about 12 meters (39 feet).

Economic Significance: The Saimaa Canal has great economic importance for Finland and the surrounding region. It provides a navigable waterway for cargo transport, especially for goods transported from the Finnish lakeland region to international markets via the Baltic Sea. It also facilitates tourism and recreational boating in the scenic Lake Saimaa area.

International Access: The canal has been an important route for international trade, allowing Finnish vessels to access the Baltic Sea and other global markets. It is open to vessels from various countries, although there are certain regulations and fees associated with its use.

Historical Significance: The Saimaa Canal has historical significance as it has played a role in the region’s history, particularly during periods of political change and conflict. During World War II, control of the canal was a point of contention between Finland and the Soviet Union. It was eventually returned to Finnish control in 1944.

Modern Developments: Over the years, the Saimaa Canal has undergone modernization and upgrades to accommodate larger vessels and improve its efficiency. Investments in infrastructure have been made to ensure its continued importance for both domestic and international shipping.

Desmond Tutu becomes the first black man to lead the Anglican Diocese of Cape Town.

Desmond Tutu becomes the first black man to lead the Anglican Diocese of Cape Town.

Pope Alexander III is chosen.

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The Berlin Victory Parade of 1945 is held.

he Berlin Victory Parade of 1945 was held by the Allies of World War II on 7 September 1945 in Berlin, the capital of the defeated Nazi Germany, shortly after the end of World War II. The four participating countries were the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and France.

The parade was proposed by the Soviet Union, following the June Moscow Victory Parade of 1945. July in Berlin also saw a British parade the 1945 British Berlin Victory Parade. The September parade took place near the Reichstag building and the Brandenburg Gate.

Senior officers present at the parade were Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov from the USSR, General George S. Patton from the United States, General Brian Robertson, from the United Kingdom, and General Marie-Pierre Kœnig from France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery declined the invitations shortly before the parade, and sent Patton and Robertson as their representatives. About 5,000 troops from the USSR, USA, UK and France took part in the parade. The parade was opened by marching troops, followed by the armour. Units present included the Soviet 248th Infantry Division, the French 2nd Infantry Division, the British 131st Infantry Brigade, and the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division; the forces present came primarily from the local garrisons. The armoured contingent came from the British 7th Armoured Division, French 1st Armored Division, and U.S. 16th Mechanized Cavalry Group. The Red Army used this occasion for the first public display of the IS-3 heavy tank, with 52 tanks from the 2nd Guards Tank Army participating.

Russian sources refer to this parade as a “forgotten parade”, as it was mentioned in only a few Western sources. The downplaying of the parade in the West can be seen as one of the early signs of the Cold War. The forces of four Allies also participated in another Berlin parade a year later, on the Charlottenburger Chaussee, in front of the Brandenburg Gate, on the first anniversary of the German surrender on 8 May 1946, in the Berlin Victory Parade of 1946. This parade was connected to the inauguration of the Soviet War Memorial at Tiergarten. Soviet troops would not be present at the much more widely known in the West London Victory Celebrations of 1946.

Fifty five people are killed in a fire at the Gulf Hotel in Houston.

Desmond Tutu becomes the first black person to head the Anglican Church in South Africa.

First test flight of the Consolidated B-32 Dominator.