Erie canal how many locks

Communications with the locks is done on VHF Channel 13 While we have listed the phone numbers for each lock, the cell phone should not be considered a primary means of communications with the lockmasters and only used when all other methods have failed to get a response. It provides the lifts for each lock, the distance to the next lock, and the estimated time enroute between locks. This discussion is about a different type of lock —a water lock lock. A lock is a structure found on waterways used for raising or lowering vessels from one water level to another.

Locks consist of a rectangular chamber with swinging gates at each end. The gates meet in the center and open or close allowing vessels to enter or leave the lock chamber. Why is it necessary to raise or lower vessels on a waterway? The Erie Canal is a good example of terrain change. A vessel leaving Albany, NY must travel through a series of locks that will raise her feet before arriving in Buffalo.

The history of locks is a subject in it self and would take a book if explored completely. There is, however, portage available through Snug Harbor Marina for boats under 40' in length. Saratoga Springs is 12 miles away from Schuylerville mile 25 on the Champlain Canal. Domesticated animals excluding exotics may be brought onto publically accessible canal property e. A cage or a leash is recommended.

Pet owners should take all appropriate steps to ensure that their enjoyment — and the enjoyment of their pets — does not hinder the enjoyment of the Canal by any other patron.

Skip to Main Content. Skip to Navigation. Your browser does not support iFrames. In the early days of the canal, when horses and mules walked the towpath, this is how a canal boat passed through a lock:.

Animated gif by Terry Pepper; used with permission. Today, boat owners are required to follow certain rules to "lock through". Langbein U. In order to keep pace with the increasing traffic on the canal, it was enlarged between and , and the size of the locks was increased to feet long and 18 feet wide. The enlargement included the doubling of the locks -- two parallel chambers -- enabling traffic to proceed in both directions at the same time.

Although the enlargement was declared to be complete in , 15 locks had not been doubled by that time, including most of those west of Port Byron. In , it was decided to resume the doubling, and this was completed in A number of locks were widened to 20 feet, beginning in