What is the purpose of Soo Locks?
The locks allow boats to traverse a 21-foot drop A thick layer of bedrock holds back the waters of Lake Superior where it joins the St. Marys River. This drop prevented boats from passing through. This reddish sandstone lines most of Lake Superior southern shores and is about 1000 feet-thick.
How does the Soo Locks Work?
The locks move the water by gravity. As a boat locks in from Lake Superior, the gates at each end of the locks are closed and a valve is open to let the Lake Superior water already in the lock flow out to the lower water level of the St Mary’s Canal and Lakes Huron and Michigan.
What would happen if Soo Locks broke?
Soo Locks breakdown would plunge America into recession, cost 11M jobs. SAULT STE. Mary’s River were to unexpectedly break down for six months, the ripple effects down the iron ore supply chain would cripple the United States economy and cost 11 million jobs — many of them here.
When were the Soo Locks first built?
1797
The First Locks In 1797, the Northwest Fur Company constructed a navigation lock 38 feet long on the Canadian side of the river for small boats. This lock remained in use until destroyed in the War of 1812. Freighters and boats were again portaged around the rapids.
How old is the Soo Locks?
The lock began operating in October 1968 and in less than four years would lock through the first 1000-foot long vessel on the Great Lakes.
Who invented Soo Locks?
General Orlando Poe
General Orlando Poe, who engineered the burning of Atlanta during the Civil War and who was now in charge of Great Lakes improvements, recommended construction of a new lock at the Soo. Work began on a lock with a single lift – 515 feet long, 60 feet wide and 17 feet deep.
How much does it cost to see the Soo Locks?
The regular Lock tour is $29 per adult. Their website has all the options and prices listed.
Why is Sault pronounced Soo?
The land changed hands many times from French to British and was finally claimed as a U.S. Territory in 1823. The Native Americans were here through it all, and long before, calling the area Bahweting or the gathering place. The Soo Locks adopted the “Soo” spelling of the name making the use of “The Soo” a common name.
How much does it cost to go thru the Soo Locks?
Depends on the one you want to take as they have several different cruises they do. The regular Lock tour is $29 per adult. Their website has all the options and prices listed.
Can you kayak through the Soo Locks?
The seven-mile paddle through the Soo Locks begins in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on the St. Marys River. Paddlers can launch their boats on the public beaches of Sherman Park and paddle east down the river. The current is easy and slow going until it is time to cross the shipping channel.
What was before the Soo Locks?
The first iteration of the U.S. Soo Locks was completed in May 1855; it was operated by the state of Michigan until transferred to the U.S. Army in 1881. The first federal lock, the Weitzel Lock, was built in 1881 and was replaced by the MacArthur Lock in 1943.
Can small boats go through the Soo Locks?
Sometimes several small boats will pass through the locks at the same time and each will normally tie up separately to the wall. Lines will be supplied by a line handling looking over the side of the lock and waiting for you. One person can handle both lines on a smaller boat but two line handlers makes it easier.
How many Soo Locks are there?
There are two parallel locks operating at the Soo. The MacArthur Lock is 800 feet long, 80 feet wide, and 29.5 feet deep. The Poe Lock is 1200 feet long, 110 feet wide, and 32 feet deep.
How are the Soo Locks work?
The Soo Locks (sometimes spelled Sault Locks but pronounced “soo”) are a set of parallel locks, operated and maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, that enable ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes.
How long are the Soo Locks?
Thanks to the Soo Locks freighters over 1,000 feet in length can traverse freely along the St. Marys River all the way from Duluth, Minnesota outward into the Atlantic Ocean and beyond. Roughly 7,000 vessels pass through the Locks yearly hauling nearly 86 million tons of cargo.
Are the Soo Locks open?
Soo Locks open as shipping season begins on Great Lakes. March 25, 2019 09:30 AM. Shipping season is officially open on the Great Lakes.