Great Lakes Waterway

The Great Lakes Waterway is a system of channels, canals, and shipping routes that connect the Great Lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario—to each other and to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence Seaway. It enables the movement of commercial ships and cargo between the inland lakes and international destinations, facilitating trade and transportation. The waterway includes locks, which are structures that raise and lower ships to navigate changes in water levels. It plays a vital role in North American commerce, supporting industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and resource extraction.