EMS, a river of Germany, rising on the south slope of the Teutoburger Wald, at an altitude of 358 ft., and flowing generally north-west and north through Westphalia and Hanover to the east side of the Dollart, immediately south of Emden. After passing through the Dollart the navigable stream bifurcates, the eastern Ems going to the east, and the western Ems to the west, of the island of Borkum to the North sea. Length, 200 miles.
Between 1892 and 1899 the river was canalized for a distance of 43 miles. At the same time, and as part of the plan to pro vide an entirely German outlet for the Westphalian industrial district, the Dortmund-Ems canal was constructed. It runs from Dortmund to Meppen (94 m.) where it joins the canalized Ems (55 m.) and then follows the open river to Emden. Altogether, the canal is 170 m. in length, has a surface width of 99 f t. and a depth of i 1 to 12 ft. The total fall is 23o f t., overcome by 19 locks and a ship-lift. It will take boats of 750 and even Boo tons. From Henrichenburg a branch runs to Herne, which is con nected with the Rhine near Ruhrost by the Rhine-Herne canal. There is a difference in level of 46 ft. between the main canal and the Herne branch, and this necessitated a huge lift at Henrichen burg. The canal is connected with the Mittelland canal system at Bevergern. Northward traffic is mostly in coke and coal from the Westphalian coalfield, to which it brings imported iron ore and other raw material and foodstuffs.
See Victor Kurs, "Die kiinstlichen Wasserstrassen des deutschen Reichs," in Geog. Zeitschrift (1898) and Deutsche Rundschau f. Geog. and Stat. (1898) ; W. H. Lindley, Report on the Waterways of France, Germany, etc. (Stationery Office, 19o9) ; A. Krziza, Emden and der Dortmund-Ems-Kanal (Kiel, 1912) .