Post on 20-Jun-2015
St. Lawrence Seaway
The St. Lawrence Seaway connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. This waterway uses canals, locks, and the St.
Lawrence River to allow ships to travel the 1680 miles
Construction on the Seaway began in 1954 and it was
completed in 1959. It was built at a cost of 470 million dollars.
The Seaway was opened in 1959 by Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight Eisenhower.
The President and the Queen at the opening in 1959
Ships on the Seaway experience a change in
elevation of about 603 ft. This is through the use of 16 locks.
Locks are used to lift or lower ships around natural obstacles
The Eisenhower Locks located at Massena, NY are one of the
largest on the Seaway.
The Welland Canal allows ships to travel around Niagara Falls
Today the Seaway handles between 40 to 50 tons of
cargo a year. Most of the cargo travels to and from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
The St Lawrence Seaway is the main route for the Prairie Provinces’ grain exports