Dictionary:
tow·path (tō'păth', -päth') ![]() |
| WordNet: towpath |
The noun has one meaning:
Meaning #1:
a path along a canal or river used by animals towing boats
Synonym: towing path
| Wikipedia: Towpath |
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A towpath is a road or trail on the bank of a river, canal, or other inland waterway. The purpose of a towpath is to allow a land vehicle, beasts of burden, or a team of human pullers to tow a boat, often a barge. This mode of transport was common where sailing was impractical due to rapid current,[citation needed] tunnels and bridges, or unfavourable winds.
After the Industrial Revolution, towing became obsolete when engines were fitted on boats and when railway transportation superseded the slow towing method. Since then, many of these towpaths have been converted to multi-use trails. They are still named towpaths although they are not used to tow boats anymore.
Towpaths are popular with cyclists and equestrians (riders and drivers- drivers as a person controlling a horse drawn cart) because they are mostly flat and long. In snowy winters they are popular with cross-country skiers and snowmobile users.
Although historically not designed or used as towpaths, acequia ditch banks also are popular recreational trails.
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| Translations: Towpath |
Dansk (Danish)
n. - trækvej (ved flod)
Français (French)
n. - chemin de halage
Deutsch (German)
n. - Treidelpfad
Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - παρόχθιο μονοπάτι ρυμούλκησης βάρκας κ.λπ. που κινείται σε κανάλι ή ποταμό
Português (Portuguese)
n. - caminho de sirga (m)
Русский (Russian)
(мор.) бочевник, пешеходная дорога по берегу реки
Español (Spanish)
n. - camino de sirga
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - pråm (drag)väg (på kanalbank o.dyl)
中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
拉船路, 牵道
中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 拉船路, 牽道
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) طريق محاذي لضفه النهر للناس, أو ألحيوانات ألمربوطه بالسفن أو ألزوارق
עברית (Hebrew)
n. - שביל לסוסים גוררי דוברות או סירות (לאורך תעלה/נהר)
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| manual | |
| hawser | |
| berm |
| Why did canals have towpaths? Read answer... |
Copyrights:
![]() | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Towpath". Read more | |
![]() | Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved. Read more |
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