Napoleon’s Lifeline for Paris
In the early 1800s, Paris struggled with a serious problem: getting enough fresh water to keep up with its booming population. To fix this, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the construction of the Canal Saint-Martin in 1802. He planned to provide water and boost the economy by making it easier to move goods.
After 23 years of detailed planning and hard work, the canal was finally completed in 1825, stretching 2.8 miles and linking the River Seine to the Canal de l’Ourcq. Unfortunately, Napoleon didn’t live long enough to see how the canal solved the water crisis while helping businesses transport grain and other supplies smoothly through the city.
