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Because of water's nature to flow downhill and a canal's need to maintain a more or less constant depth, it has to maintain a relatively level course despite crossing land which changes in elevation. Therefore a canal has to "stair-step" its way over variations in terrain through locks which raise and lower boats to the changing levels of the canal's course.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoLocks were needed to help boats adjust to the elevation of the land. Think of the locks as "stair steps."
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoThe Erie Canal has locks to compensate for the change of elevation much like stair steps.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoLocks were needed to overcome the problems of elevation.
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What problem did engineers need to solve to build the Panama Canal?
Building locks to change the water level
What happens when the Erie Canal reaches Lake Erie?
When the barge on the Erie Canal reaches Lake Erie, the goods or people need to be transferred to a boat to go to the next destination.
Where did the digging begin for the Erie Canal?
Digging began in Rome, New York in July of 1817. It was started there because the terrain was level and there was no need to build locks from Rome to Syracuse.
Why does the Panama Canal have locks but the Suez Canal does not?
Locks are only needed when the ships need to be raised and lowered in altitude because of the terrain the canal crosses.
Why do ships need to use locks?
Locks are a means of raising or lowering a ship in a canal or river system.
Where is the Eerie canal located?
The Erie Canal is located between Hudson River and Lake Erie. It was created because people needed a way to get around on water and water isn't always where you need it.
What is an example of a canal in north America?
Erie Canal Is a Example of a canal yup and guess what i need help finding the exact lolcation yay for me aaahhh homework lol
What set of locks make it possible for ships to travel between Lake Superior and Lake Huron?
The Welland Canal contains locks that need to be transited to get to the Atlantic Ocean.
Why were locks built on the Erie Canal?
Locks on canals exist because you need level water to be able to boat, sail or barge from one point to another. Unlike a road, a river or a canal cannot have a hill. Hills on water are called rapids or even worse waterfalls. The Erie Canal was and still is a man made river and it was made to facilitate boat and barge traffic between Lake Erie and the Hudson River. To build the canal, labors dug a hole in the ground that was about 4 feet deep, 20 feet wide and 365 miles long! The topography between these 2 spots goes from 0 feet above sea level to 420 feet above sea level by Rome NY, then drops to 363 ft around Rochester and then up to 565 ft by Lake Erie. So imagine what would happen if they started to fill the canal with water in Rome NY? All the water would flow out to either Albany or Rochester, until there was no more water in the canal, making it impossible for ships or barges to use the canal. And this is because water seeks its own level or said another way, water always flows down hill. And it's this property of water that forces man made rivers to have locks. So what a lock does is create steps in the canal to step down to the level below or if traveling in the opposite direction step up to the level above. So the locks were built to allow boat and barges to sail up hill and down hill on a flat body of water!
Why did the Panama Canal need locks?
There are locks at each end of the Panama Canal that raise ships some 85 feet above sea level. The options to construct the canal were to either dig the canal down to sea level for the entire length or use locks to allow the canal height to be more in line with the natural terrain through which it passes. Although the locks are technically more complex than simply cutting a channel, they reduced the work required dramatically and caused less damage to the surrounding land.
Why are locks needed on st Lawrence seaway?
The level of water in Erie Canal touches 566 Feet on one side and other side 365 feet from Sea level.There are two locks. Vessels enters between two locks with water at higher level. Then one lock is opened and water level comes down and the journey continues.
How many locks have been constructed on the panama canal?
The "Locks" are long narrow chambers with gates at each end that lock the water in. A ship goes into a chamber, the gates are closed and water is pumped in or out to raise or lower the ship to a new level. The Panama Canal has three sets of Locks. The Gatun locks are on the Caribbean side. Ships go into the locks at sea level. The gate is closed. Water is pumped in and the ship rises to the level of Lake Gatun. The ship sails across the lake and the canal and enters the Pedro Miguel Locks where it is raised again. It sails across the canal and enters the Miraflores locks where it is lowered to the Pacific Ocean's sea level. Reference: ADDED: It is not usual to pump water uphill on a canal, and it is never pumped downhill. That's what gravity's for! Normally a canal above sea-level is designed not to need no pumping because it can be kept topped up from streams flowing off land higher than its highest reaches; though if these natural sources are reduced or lost then pumping would be necessary. The problem facing the Panama Canal is of the highland streams being reduced by land use such as deforesting.
