Completed in 1895, this canal formed the last link in an all-Canadian navigation system stretching from the St. Lawrence River to Lake Superior. Designed and built by Canadians, it incorporated several engineering innovations. It had the world's longest lock and was the first to operate with electrical power. It also used an emergency swing bridge dam to protect the lock in case of accident, with electricity generated on site in the powerhouse. Closed in 1987 owing to a lock wall failure, the canal was equipped with a modern lock and opened for recreational use in 1998.