How do ships get from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario?

The Great Lakes are a remarkable natural wonder, but they are also part of one of the world’s most impressive man-made transportation systems. A common question travelers and maritime enthusiasts ask is: how do ships get from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario? The answer lies in a combination of natural waterways and incredible human engineering — most notably the Welland Canal.

Let’s take a closer look at how ships make this critical journey between two of North America’s most important lakes.

The Welland Canal: The Main Gateway

The primary route for ships traveling from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario is through the Welland Canal, a vital link in the St. Lawrence Seaway System. The Welland Canal was specifically built to bypass Niagara Falls, which, while breathtakingly beautiful, poses an obvious obstacle to navigation with its 167-foot (51-meter) drop.

Key Facts About the Welland Canal:

• Length: About 27 miles (43 kilometers)
• Elevation Change: Approximately 326 feet (99 meters) between the two lakes
• Number of Locks: 8 locks (as of the current version)
• Typical Transit Time: 8 to 12 hours, depending on ship traffic and weather

The canal allows ships to be lifted or lowered in stages using locks — watertight chambers where water levels can be raised or lowered — to match the changing elevation between the two lakes.

How the Locks Work

Each lock operates like a giant water elevator. Here’s the basic process:

1. A ship enters a lock chamber.
2. Gates close behind the ship.
3. Water is either pumped in or drained out of the lock to raise or lower the ship to the next level.
4. Once the water level matches the next section of the canal, the gates open, and the ship proceeds.

The locks are large enough to accommodate ocean-going vessels known as "salties" and huge lake freighters called "lakers."

A Brief History of the Welland Canal

The idea for a canal bypassing Niagara Falls dates back to the early 19th century. Construction on the first Welland Canal began in 1824, and it opened in 1829. Since then, the canal has undergone several upgrades and reconstructions to accommodate larger ships and more traffic. The version in use today — often called the Fourth Welland Canal — was completed in 1932 and has been maintained and improved ever since.

The canal was a major driver of industrial growth in both Canada and the United States, opening up the Great Lakes to international shipping markets.

The St. Lawrence Seaway: Beyond Lake Ontario

After navigating through the Welland Canal to reach Lake Ontario, ships can continue eastward along the St. Lawrence Seaway, a system of locks, canals, and channels that ultimately connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. This allows for the transportation of goods from deep inside North America to markets around the world.

The Seaway, completed in 1959, is a joint venture between Canada and the United States and represents a monumental achievement in cooperative infrastructure development.

Are There Other Ways to Travel Between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario?

For large cargo ships and most commercial traffic, the Welland Canal is the only practical and legal route between the two lakes. Smaller boats, like recreational vessels, sometimes use services that help them traverse the canal, or they may be trailered around Niagara Falls by land. However, no natural river connects the two lakes directly due to the massive drop at the Falls.

In Conclusion

Ships get from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario by traveling through the Welland Canal, a marvel of engineering that lifts and lowers vessels across a significant elevation change. This critical connection not only bypasses the impassable Niagara Falls but also forms a key part of the greater St. Lawrence Seaway System, linking the interior of North America to global trade routes.

Without the Welland Canal, the Great Lakes region would not have become the economic powerhouse it is today. Each ship that makes the journey through the locks carries with it a piece of history, innovation, and the spirit of North American commerce.