THESE incredible drone photos of the drained Pontcysyllte Aqueduct were captured by Carl Edwards.

The World Heritage Site located in Trevor, Wrexham, is being drained for the for the first time in two decades as part of a major project by the Canal and River Trust. 

The cast iron aqueduct, one of 26 in the UK, and part of the country's vast canal and river network, has been closed to boats and pedestrians since Tuesday, January 2 2024, to allow the essential maintenance work to be carried out.

The Leader: Carl Edwards took this drone photograph of the massive landmarkCarl Edwards took this drone photograph of the massive landmark (Image: Carl Edwards)
It will re-open on Saturday, March 16 2024.

A statement from Llangollen Tourist Information said: "This is due to the aqueduct being dewatered for annual maintenance."

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct will be shown on BBC Countryfile Extra on Sunday, March 3 at 6pm.

A statement from Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site said last month: "Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith head to the UK's longest and highest aqueduct, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in North Wales. Built in 1795, it is one of 26 cast iron aqueducts in the UK and part of the country's vast canal and river network.

The Leader: Incredible image of the maintenance being carried outIncredible image of the maintenance being carried out (Image: Carl Edwards)
"Now, for the first time in two decades, it’s going to be drained as part of a major project by the Canal and River Trust. Matt and Charlotte are on hand to see what it takes to maintain this massive landmark.

The Leader: 'Stream in the sky' - Pontcysyllte Aqueduct has been named as the most captivating UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world'Stream in the sky' - Pontcysyllte Aqueduct has been named as the most captivating UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world (Image: Carl Edwards)
"Charlotte learns about the history of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and helps the team start the mega engineering process of draining the canal. She then joins the repair team to see how they fix the thousands of iron railings spanning the aqueduct.

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"Matt helps repair part of a nearby canal bank before discovering the species that call it home."