Opened in 1825, the Erie Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean to the upper Great Lakes. Running east and west more than 350 miles between the Hudson River near Albany and Lake Erie at Buffalo, it uses locks to raise and lower boats more than 570 feet. The canal opened the interior of North America and transformed New York into the Empire State. Settlers and immigrants pressed westward on the Erie Canal, giving rise to cities and new industries in New York and the Midwest, while the products of farms and factories moved east to markets along the Atlantic. Enlarged over the years to accommodate larger boats, it still operates as an active and historic waterway for all to enjoy.
