1. By: Nicole and Alex

2. A canal is a man-made structure built to connect two different bodies of water. A canal is different from other waterways because a canal isnt natural. It was Dewitt Clintons idea to build The Erie Canal. Others thought that it would never be done.

3. The Erie Canal was made for the transportation of goods. It was built in 1817. People thought that if seaboard cities were connected to the heartland, a better east-west route will be found. Many immigrants from all over came to work on The Erie Canal.

4. The Erie Canal connected The Atlantic Ocean to Lake Erie. It takes about 12 days to travel from Albany to Buffalo on the The Erie Canal. Some cities along The Erie Canal are Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Albany, Rome and Lockport.

5. The canal was useful for transportation, shipping, trade, and pleasure. It connects The Atlantic Ocean to Lake Erie. The Erie Canal is still used today. It is used for biking along, pleasure and shipping.

6. The Erie Canal caused a huge impact on New York in many ways. For example, it caused the population to rise. It made shopping lots easier. It raised New Yorks economy. It made shopping a lot less costly. The canal made it so that seaboard cities were connected to the mainland.

7. The downstream gate is opened. The boat is towed into the lock. The towline is untied. The downstream gate closes. Sluices pump in water. When the water level tops off the upstream gate is opened. The towline is tied again and the boat continues.

8. The Erie Canal cost $ 7,000,000 to build! The Erie Canal was 363 miles long. It used to be 40 ft. wide and 4 ft. deep. But now it is 70 ft. wide and 7 ft. deep. There were many types of boats on The Erie Canal. There were packet boats, line boats, towing boats and lumber boats.

9. ALEXNICOLE Hi, Im Alex I like science, math and space but not social studies. I definitely liked The Erie Canal. My favorite fact is just how they even managed to finish it. Hi, Im Nicole. I love science, animals (not including snakes, bats, and spiders), and summer. I have never really taken interest in social studies, but this REALLY caught my attention. I am so interested in The Erie Canal.

10. Sources: The Erie Canal. PBS Kids Go! 14 Apr. 2011. The Erie Canal: A Journey Through History. ePodunk. 14 Apr. 2011. Locks on the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal. 14 Apr. 2011.