The King Wilhelm Canal is a 19th-century engineering feat that connected the Minija River with the Curonian Lagoon. The only man-made waterway of its kind, it was dug between 1863 and 1873 by order of King Wilhelm I of Prussia. The main reason for building the canal was the stormy conditions in the Curonian Lagoon, as fishermen and merchants often lost their lives because sailing on the open waters of the lagoon was dangerous.
The canal became a lifeline for the Lithuanian region. For the people of Drevernai, the canal’s construction meant new trade opportunities, easier access to the Minija River, and faster transportation of fish, timber, and other goods. For the state, the canal was a strategic asset—it connected remote villages with the port of Klaipėda. The canal contributed to economic development and the region’s integration into broader trade networks.