The Manchester Ship Canal

The Manchester Ship Canal is a large shipping route in northwest England, connecting the Port of Manchester to the Irish Sea at Liverpool. Built between 1887 and 1894, it allowed ships to travel directly from the sea to Manchester, bypassing the lengthy journey around Britain’s west coast. The canal transformed Manchester into a major industrial and trading hub, enabling the easy transport of goods such as textiles, coal, and manufactured products. It is approximately 36 miles long, featuring locks and navigable waterways, and remains an important infrastructure for freight transport and regional commerce today.