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Erie Canal

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A beautiful sunset view over the Erie Canal in North Tonawanda, New York.

The Erie Canal

The Erie Canal is a very old waterway in upstate New York. It connects the Hudson River to Lake Erie. This helps boats travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, which are above Niagara Falls.

People first thought about building this canal in the 1780s. Construction began in 1817 and finished in 1825. It was a big engineering feat and helped the United States grow westward. The canal made it easier and cheaper to move goods and people across the Appalachians.

Today, the Erie Canal is mainly used for fun. People enjoy boat rides and visiting parks and museums along the canal. There is also a popular cycling path called the New York State Canalway Trail. In 2000, it was named the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor to protect it.

The canal has 36 locks that help boats go up and down hills. One special group of locks is called the Waterford Flight. These locks lift boats very quickly over a short distance.

The Erie Canal has had a big impact on New York state. It helped cities like New York City grow and become important. The canal also inspired many other places to build their own waterways.

Images

Portrait of DeWitt Clinton, a United States Senator and Governor of New York, painted by Rembrandt Peale in 1823.
A shaded relief map showing the landscape of New York State, including mountains, valleys, and rivers.
An 1840 map showing the route of the Erie Canal in New York State.
A historical map showing the Erie Canal as it looked in the 1830s, illustrating important water transport routes in New York State.
A stone aqueduct of the Erie Canal crossing the Mohawk River in Rexford, New York.
An old wooden keg on a stand from an Erie Canal celebration in 1825, displayed at the New-York Historical Society.
Historical map showing the Erie Canal as it looked in 1853.
An old aqueduct structure near Nine Mile Creek, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Map showing important water routes for trains and canals in the northeastern United States.
A lift bridge spanning the Erie Canal in Lockport, New York.
Historic Erie Canal lock in Durhamville, New York
A historic lock structure on the Erie Canal, showing how water levels are managed for boats.
A historical drawing from 1839 showing the Erie Canal in Lockport, New York.

Related articles

Hudson River
Lake Erie
Atlantic Ocean
Great Lakes
Niagara Falls
New York City

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Erie Canal, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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