Oswego Canal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oswego Canal |
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|---|---|
| Specifications | |
| Length | 23.7 miles (38.1 km) |
| Maximum boat length | 300 ft 0 in (91.44 m) |
| Maximum boat beam | 43 ft 6 in (13.3 m) |
| Locks | 7 |
| Maximum height above sea level | 363 ft (111 m) |
| Status | open |
| Navigation authority | New York State Canal Corporation |
| History | |
| Date completed | 1828 |
| Geography | |
| Start point | Oswego, New York, on Lake Ontario (43°28′33″N 76°30′58″W / 43.4757°N 76.5161°W) |
| End point | confluence of Seneca and Oneida River (43°12′05″N 76°16′49″W / 43.2014°N 76.2804°W) |
| Branch of | New York State Canal System |
| Connects to | Erie Canal |
The Oswego Canal is an important waterway in New York, United States. It is part of the larger New York State Canal System. This canal opened in 1828. It is about 23.7 miles (38.1 km) long.
The Oswego Canal connects the famous Erie Canal to Lake Ontario. It starts near Liverpool and ends in Oswego. The canal is 14 feet (4.2 meters) deep. It uses seven special water elevators called locks. These locks help boats move up or down a total of 118 feet (36 meters).
The canal mostly follows the Oswego River. Parts of the river were changed to make it easier for boats to travel. This is called "canalizing" a river. Three locks in Oswego help boats get past fast-moving river sections. This canal is the only way to get from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Ontario entirely within the United States.
Shipping on the Canal
The Oswego Canal is used by many boats. In 2013, a radio station called WRVO reported good news. The number of boats using the canal had been growing for several years. Each year, about 80 to 120 boats traveled through it.
This increase happened partly because of changes in Canada. Canada made it easier to ship grain grown there. This meant more boats used the Oswego Canal to move goods.
How Canal Locks Work
Canal locks are like elevators for boats. They help boats move between different water levels. The Oswego Canal has seven locks. These locks allow boats to travel up or down the canal's changing height.
Each lock on the New York State Canal System is a single chamber. They are 328 feet (100 meters) long and 45 feet (13.7 meters) wide. There is at least 12 feet (3.7 meters) of water inside. Boats up to 300 feet (91 meters) long and 43.5 feet (13.3 meters) wide can fit. The height of the lock walls changes. It can be from 28 feet (8.5 meters) to 61 feet (18.6 meters) tall.
Oswego Canal Locks
There is no Lock O4 on the Oswego Canal. The canal officially starts where the Oneida, Seneca, and Oswego rivers meet. This spot is near Phoenix, New York.
Lock O8 in Oswego was first built as a "siphon lock." This type of lock used air pressure to move water. It had some problems at first. Later, it was changed to use electric valves, like other locks.
The distances and water levels below are estimates. They are based on maps and old records. They should be very close to the actual measurements.
| Lock Number | Location | Water Level (downstream) | Water Level (upstream) | Lift or Drop | Distance to Next Lock (downstream) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O1 | Phoenix | 352.8 ft (107.5 m) | 363.0 ft (110.6 m) | -10.2 ft (-3.1 m) | O2, 9.33 mi (15.02 km) |
| O2 | Fulton | 335.0 ft (102.1 m) | 352.8 ft (107.5 m) | -17.8 ft (-5.4 m) | O3, 0.58 mi (0.93 km) |
| O3 | Fulton | 308.0 ft (93.9 m) | 335.0 ft (102.1 m) | -27.0 ft (-8.2 m) | O5, 6.43 mi (10.35 km) |
| O5 | Minetto | 290.0 ft (88.4 m) | 308.0 ft (93.9 m) | -18.0 ft (-5.5 m) | O6, 3.29 mi (5.30 km) |
| O6 | Oswego | 270.0 ft (82.3 m) | 290.0 ft (88.4 m) | -20.0 ft (-6.1 m) | O7, 0.67 mi (1.08 km) |
| O7 | Oswego | 255.5 ft (77.9 m) | 270.0 ft (82.3 m) | -14.5 ft (-4.4 m) | O8, 0.44 mi (0.71 km) |
| O8 | Oswego | 244.4 ft (74.5 m) | 255.5 ft (77.9 m) | -11.1 ft (-3.4 m) | Lake Ontario, 0.68 mi (1.09 km) |
The average water level of Lake Ontario is about 243 feet (74 meters).
Geographic data related to Oswego Canal at OpenStreetMap
