bruskanal

Bruskanal is a term used in some Northern European languages to denote a small, man-made waterway that serves as an auxiliary channel within a larger canal, drainage, or irrigation system. It functions primarily to regulate water flow, lower water levels in wet areas, or divert surplus water toward a main watercourse or reservoir. The structure is typically modest in dimensions, may be unlined or lightly lined, and is often equipped with simple control elements such as sluices, weirs, or stoplogs.

In design practice, bruskanals link upstream and downstream segments, connect wetlands to navigable channels, and can be used to improve field drainage or protect low-lying lands from flooding. The exact form and operation depend on local hydrology, soil conditions, and land use, with variations including straight or curving alignments and variable gradients.

Historically, the term appears in regional drainage schemes in Northern Europe, where small side channels were integrated into larger canal networks to manage marshlands and agricultural areas. In modern engineering literature, bruskanal is not a widely used technical term in English; when encountered, it is often described by more general terms such as auxiliary canal, feeder canal, or drainage ditch.

See also: canal, drainage, feeder canal, sluice, weir, dredging.