Kanal, frequently referred to as Kanal ob Soči, is a settlement mostly on the left bank of the Soča River in the Slovene Littoral, the traditional region in southwestern Slovenia. It is an important crossing point over the Soča. At its eastern border, on the left bank of the Soča, runs the Bohinj Railway, the railway track linking the Central Europe and the Mediterranean. The name Kanal comes from the shape of the valley.HistoryThe first mention of the settlement dates to 1140, the year 1336 mentions the name of Dvor Svete Marije, and bridge in 1350. The center of the town was fortified in the Middle Ages. There are four towers left called bastions. There used to be a small castle, which was destroyed in 1264 and later rebuilt after the First World War as a residential building. In the 19th century small manufacturing plants were established. From 1900 until 1906, the Bohinj Railway was built.Cultural heritageBridgeThe first bridge was built by the Romans. The current bridge was built after World War I. The bridge is around 17 meters tall and there are yearly diving events in mid-August. There are plans for building a new bridge to reduce traffic through the center.Neptune FountainThe Neptune Fountain, next to the parish church in the centre of the settlement, was built in 1815.