Draining of aqueduct
More than a million litres of water is to be drained from the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Oswestry today as the plug is pulled on the world famous landmark.
The newly-crowned World Heritage Site is being drained and cleaned ahead of next year's tourist season.
British Waterways said the operation, which was last carried out in 2003, was set to offer a spectacular sight to visitors.
The operation was due to get under way at 12.30pm and was expected to take about two hours to drain.
The aqueduct is drained by the removal of a large plug in the middle of the structure. When released, it sends the 1.5 million litres of water cascading into the River Dee, almost 130ft below. This draining will allow a thorough four-day inspection of the structure.
It is the first such operation on Thomas Telford's 204-year-old masterpiece since it won Unesco World Heritage Status, putting it on a par with the likes of the Statue of Liberty and the Taj Mahal.
The ceremonial pulling of the plug was due to be undertaken by a pupil from Ysgol Bryn Collen in Llangollen.
The 11-mile corridor from Chirk through to the Horseshoe Falls on the River Dee at Llangollen is rich in heritage and history, containing 168 notable features and structures.
