 Due to a dam rupture, it was closed from July 1976 until June 1977.The difference in elevation between the Mittelland Canal and the Elbe is , which is overcome by a lock at Uelzen and the Scharnebeck twin ship lift, a boat lift at Scharnebeck.There are small ports along the canal in Lüneburg, Uelzen and Wittingen, and a landing stage at Wulfstorf (near Bienenbüttel).