The Aberdeenshire Canal was designed by John Rennie. Work started in 1796 and it opened in 1805. It ran up the valley of the River Don from Aberdeen, Scotland to a terminus just south of Inverurie. Because of the canal, the terminus area came to be known as Port Elphinstone. The canal had 17 locks along its 18 mile length and was used to carry both freight and passenger boats. It was later sold to the Great North of Scotland Railway who closed it in 1854 and laid railway tracks along much of its length. John Rennie (7 June 1761 in East Linton, Scotland - 4 October 1821) was a civil engineer, constructing many bridges, canals, and docks. ... 1796 was a leap year starting on Friday. ... 1805 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The article is about the Don River in Scotland. ... Aberdeens location in Scotland Aberdeen (Obar Dheathain in Scottish Gaelic) is Scotlands third largest city, with a population of 212,125. ... Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Alba) is a country in northwest Europe, occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain. ... Inverurie is a burgh in Aberdeenshire, Scotland approximately 16 miles north east of Aberdeen along the A96 road. ... The ‘’Great North of Scotland Railway’’ (GNSR) received its Parliamentary approval on June 26 1846, following over two years’ of local meetings. ... 1854 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

External links

• Map and aerial photo sources for:
  • Bridge of Don (http://www.rhaworth.myby.co.uk/oscoor_a.htm?NJ925095_region:GB_scale:25000) - the Aberdeen terminus of the canal was presumably hereabouts
  • Port Elphinstone (http://www.rhaworth.myby.co.uk/oscoor_a.htm?NJ778198_region:GB_scale:25000)