Murray Canal facts for kids
The Murray Canal is a special waterway in Ontario, Canada. It connects the western part of the Bay of Quinte to Presqu'ile Bay on Lake Ontario. This canal is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) long and is 2.7 meters (9 feet) deep.
The Murray Canal helps boats save a lot of time. Instead of going all the way around the large Prince Edward County peninsula, boats can use the canal to quickly get from the Bay of Quinte to Lake Ontario. It's like a shortcut for ships!
Building the Canal
People first thought about building this canal way back in 1796. The government of Upper Canada even set aside land for it. However, other canals were seen as more important at the time. These included the Welland Canal and the Rideau Canal. So, the Murray Canal project was put on hold for many years.
Construction finally began in 1882. Building the canal was not easy because the ground along the banks was unstable. This caused delays, and it took seven years to finish. The Murray Canal was finally completed in 1889.
Bridges and Crossings
The Murray Canal has two swing bridges that allow cars to cross over it. These are on Ontario Highway 33 and County Road 64. A swing bridge can pivot or "swing" open to let boats pass through.
There used to be an old railway swing bridge, but it is now permanently open. The train tracks that once crossed the canal have been removed. Another bridge at Hutchison Road was also taken down, and only its foundations remain.
Canal Use Over Time
For many years, the Murray Canal was very busy. Commercial boats, like those carrying coal, used it often. However, things changed in the 1950s when the Saint Lawrence Seaway was built. The Seaway is a much larger system of canals and locks that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. This meant that fewer commercial boats needed to use the smaller Murray Canal.
Today, the Murray Canal is mostly used by people enjoying recreational boating. It's a popular spot for boaters who are exploring the Trent–Severn Waterway. This waterway is a chain of canals and lakes that connects Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay.
