Welland Canal

The Welland Canal is a crucial shipping route in Ontario, Canada, that connects Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, bypassing Niagara Falls. It enables ships to navigate around the waterfalls, facilitating transportation of goods between the Great Lakes and beyond. The canal is a series of locks that raise and lower vessels over a total elevation change of about 99 feet (30 meters). Since its opening in 1829, it has been vital for trade, allowing large cargo ships to bypass the difficult and dangerous waterfalls, ensuring efficient movement of commodities like grain, automobiles, and raw materials across North America.