List of Locks and Dams of The Ohio River - Evolution of Navigation On The Ohio River

Evolution of Navigation On The Ohio River

In the early days of steamboat navigation on the Ohio River the major physical hurdle that delayed travel was the Falls of the Ohio near Louisville, Kentucky. Steamboats could only maneuver over the falls during times of high water, which were not consistent. It was more practical for the steamboats to drop off passengers and freight on one end of the falls and transport them over land to the opposite end of the falls to another steamboat. This resulted in Louisville becoming a customary last stop for vessels on both legs of the Ohio. If a steamboat desired to travel unimpeded though the falls without waiting for high water a canal and lock system was needed in order to circumvent the falls.

In 1825, construction began on that canal and by the year 1830 the privately financed Louisville and Portland Canal was finished. The canal was constructed by hand tools with the help of animal drawn scrappers and carts. The completed canal was two miles long with three locking chambers that created a total lift of 26 feet.

Read more about this topic:  List Of Locks And Dams Of The Ohio River

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