The Welland Canal links the two Great Lakes, Lake
Erie and Lake Ontario. It is 44.4 km (27.6 miles) long, with a
minimum depth of 9 metres (30 feet), and forms a vital part of
the St. Lawrence & Great Lakes Waterway. Eight locks,
each 262 metres (859 feet) long, 24 metres (80 feet) wide, and 9 metres (30 Feet)
deep) overcome the 99 metre (326 feet) difference in elevation
between the lakes and bypass Niagara Falls.
The
canal was built (1914-32) to replace a canal opened in
1829, and was modernized and enlarged in 1972. The picture on the left was taken from the helicopter (stop #3) and shows
one of the locks that ships must pass through.
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