Old Headworks of Meiji Canal (明治用水旧頭首工) Traditional Cache
Old Headworks of Meiji Canal (明治用水旧頭首工)
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Size: 
(micro)
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The Meiji Irrigation Canal was completed to supply for agriculture and industrial water to Nishi-Mikawa southwest in 1880.
First headworks were made at the point about 1200m upstream from here. First headworks were made by stack of stones and wood pile, so was broken by heavy rain frequently.
These second generation headworks completed in 1901. They were made by artificial stone called “Chohichi Tataki” invented by Hattori Chohichi the civil engineer. They were very stable so didn’t be broken till 1958 the period of current headworks completion at about 300m downstream. The length of weir was 116m, locks for ships were made on left bank of river. You can see the remains, the part of weir and locks. It was said that these remains were remained because the structure wa so solid and disassembly works were stopped.
Cache is concealed in the vicinity of old headworks of Meiji canal. There is a small parking space near the cache but not recommend to park here. Recommended parking lot is Suigen shrine in opposite shore.
The traffic of front road is very heavy so be careful. Cache is not concealed at dangerous sight but not recommend to visit at night because the river is close.
===== Japanese =====
明治用水は西三河南西部に農業用、工業用の水を供給するために1880年に完成しました。
明治用水完成当時の頭首工（取水のための堰）はここから約1200m上流に造られましたが、丸太の杭を打ち割石を積んだ導水堤だけだったため、大雨が降る度に決壊し、水が供給できなくなりました。
二代目となる旧頭首工は、土木技師服部長七が考案した「長七たたき」と呼ばれる人造石によって1901年に完成し、現在の頭首工（ここから約300m下流）が完成する1958年まで矢作川の強い水流に耐えながら明治用水を支えてきました。堰の幅は116mに渡り、左岸には船通しの閘門が造られていましたが、現在は堰堤の一部と閘門の遺構を見ることができます。なお、この遺構が残されたのは頭首工が役割を終えて解体されるにあたり、あまりにも強固なため作業が進まず、途中で中止したためと言われています。
キャッシュはこの旧頭首工の近くに隠されています。キャッシュポイント近くにはかろうじて停車できるスペースがありますが、道が狭いためそこへの駐車はお勧めしません。車でお越しの場合は少し遠いですが、対岸の水源神社駐車場を利用されることをお勧めします。
前の道路は道幅のわりに交通量が非常に多いのでご注意ください。キャッシュは危険な場所にはありませんが、川が近いので夜間のご訪問はお勧めしません。
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