Large Iron Ore Boat Coming into Sabin Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

154-16731 Large Iron Ore Boat coming into Sabin Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

The Great Lakes furnish the most remarkable inland waterway in the world. to make this waterway navigable all the way from Duluth, Minnesota, to Buffalo, New York, our country has done several things. The lake and rivers connecting Lakes Erie and Huron have been deepened. A canal has been built around the rapids in the St. Mary's River, which is between Lakes Huron and Superior. THis is known as the "Soo Canal." Lake Superior is twenty-three feet higher than Lake Huron, so the canal is provided with locks which lift the boats going west and lower those traveling east. This "Soo" canal handles more freight than any other canal in the world.

The odd looking "freighter" entering the locks is very well adapted to carrying ore or coal on the lakes. It is like a huge iron box with a flat bottom. There is a little house at end end. In one the crew lives. In the other is machinery. Some of these boats carry 10,000 tons of freight at one time.

What do they all carry? Many carry iron ore, which comes from the mines near Hibbing, to eastern ports. At Duluth and Superior the world's greatest grain elevators (store houses) are full of wheat awaiting shipment. Copper and lumber also make up many cargoes. The westward bound boats carry a greater variety of freight. Coals fills the most boats. (Why?) Other are loaded with dry goods, clothing, groceries, automobiles, machinery, and many smaller manufactured articles.

I. Another Keystone sterograph shows how ore botas are loaded by machinery. Which one is it?

II. Who has built a canal around Niagara Falls? Can large boats go through it and on to the Atlantic Coast?

• Soo Locks
  Michigan, United States
  

  Latitude: 46.50308 Longitude: -84.35171