Four sluices and five slipways to overcome the almost 100-meter difference in water levels are the most original solutions that distinguish this nineteenth-century wonder of technology. The entire route consists of three main sections with a total length of 130 km and with many water branches, including lakes and navigable sections of rivers. The longest of them connects Ostróda with Elbląg (hence the name), the second - Miłomłyn with Iława, and the third - Ostróda with Stare Jabłonki. Through the Elbląg River and the Vistula Lagoon, the canal connects Masuria with the Baltic Sea.
