Did you know?

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Group 1493

100 metres (326 feet) of elevation change through the Welland Canal's seven locks

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91 million litres (24 million gallons) of water required to fill a single lock

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The canal is 43 kilometres (27 miles) in total length

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234 metres (766 feet) length of each lock

25Metres

The canal is 25 metres (80 feet) in width - a Seaway-max vessel has approximately 1 foot of clearance on each side when transiting a lock

How the Locks Work

A vessel traveling downstream would find the lock chamber already filled with water. The entrance gate is opened and the vessel moves in.

The entrance gate is then closed. A valve is opened and the lock chamber is drained, lowering the vessel. Once the vessel reaches the desired level, the exit gate is then opened and the vessel moves out of the chamber. This process is reversed for a vessel traveling upstream.

Why Do We Need a
Canal System?

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The Welland Canal allows ships to bypass Niagara Falls and conquer the Niagara escarpment to continue through the Great Lakes system. This marine corridor is an integral part of North America’s supply chain and is right here in Niagara!