The Erie Canal

The Erie Canal, completed in 1825, is a vital waterway connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River. Built to facilitate trade and transportation, it spans approximately 363 miles across New York State. The canal significantly lowered transportation costs, enabling farmers and merchants to move goods efficiently, which spurred economic growth and urban development in the Midwest and Northeast. Its construction marked a major engineering achievement of the 19th century and helped transform the United States into a more interconnected and prosperous nation.