Ship Canal - Important Ship Canals (by Length)

Important Ship Canals (by Length)

List of important ship canals by length
Canal Length Lock depth Dimensions Location Notes
White Sea – Baltic Canal 141 mi (227 km) 3.5 m (11 ft) 135m × 14.3 m × 3.5m Russia
  • Opened in 1933, is partly a canalised river, partly an artificial canal, and partly some natural lakes.
  • Shallow depth limits modern vessels from using the canal.
Rhine-Main-Danube Canal 106 mi (171 km) 4 m (13 ft) lock dimensions: 190m x 11.45m x 4m Germany
  • Opened in 1992, links the large rivers Rhine and Danube, and thus also the North Sea and the Black Sea.
Suez Canal 100 mi (160 km) 300 m (980 ft) wide Egypt
  • Opened in 1869, links the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.
Volga-Don Canal 62 mi (100 km) 3.5 m (11 ft) lock dimensions: 140m x 16.6m x 3.5m Russia
  • Opened in 1952, connects the Black, Azov, and Caspian Seas.
Kiel Canal 60 mi (97 km) 14 m (46 ft) lock dimensions: 310m x 42m x 14m Germany
  • Opened in 1895. Shortens the passage between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.
Houston Ship Channel 56 mi (90 km) 14 m (46 ft) 161 m (528 ft) wide USA
  • Connects Houston, Texas to the Gulf of Mexico.
Panama Canal 51 mi (82 km) 25.9 m (85 ft) lock dimensions: 320m x 33.53m x 25.9 m Panama
  • Opened in 1914. Links the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, creating a shortcut.
Danube-Black Sea Canal 40 mi (64 km) 5.5 m (18 ft) lock dimensions: 138m x 16.8m x 5.5m Romania
  • Opened in 1984. Links the Danube to the Black Sea.
Manchester Ship Canal 36 mi (58 km) 8.78 m (28.8 ft) lock dimensions: 170.68m x 21.94m x 8.78m UK
  • Opened in 1894. Links the in-land city of Manchester to Irish Sea.
Welland Canal 43.4 km (27.0 mi) 8.2 m (27 ft) lock dimensions: 225.5m x 2.3m x 8.2 m Canada
  • Opened in 1931. Links Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and is part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway.
Saint Lawrence Seaway 8.2 m (27 ft) lock dimensions: 225.5m x 2.3m x 8.2 m Canada
USA
  • Links Montreal with Lake Superior.

Read more about this topic:  Ship Canal

Famous quotes containing the words important, ship and/or canals:

    “I have no doubt that it was a principle they fought for, as much as our ancestors, and not to avoid a three-penny tax on their tea; and the results of this battle will be as important and memorable to those whom it concerns as those of the battle of Bunker Hill, at least.”
    —Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    “... what a family is without a steward, a ship without a pilot, a flock without a shepherd, a body without a head, the same, I think, is a kingdom without the health and safety of a good monarch.”
    —Elizabeth I (1533–1603)

    “The Nymph exulting fills with shouts the sky;
    The walls, the woods, and long canals reply.”
    —Alexander Pope (1688–1744)