Hundreds of ships from around the world travel the St. Lawrence Seaway. You’ll see all kinds of ships, from massive Lakers – ships that only travel the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River – to cruise ships and everything in between. The St. Lawrence Seaway is a system of locks, canals, and channels that permit Lakers and ocean-going vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The seaway opened in 1959. The Snell and Eisenhower locks are located in Massena, New York. From the Visitors Center, observers can watch as ships navigate the locks. The locks lift the ships from the lower level down by the International Bridge to above Eisenhower Lock, a total lift of over 90 feet.
International rapids existed before the Seaway was constructed. Ships carry a wide variety of cargos from and to around the world.
During the summer, you can observe the ships going through the locks from the Seaway Visitor’s Center observation deck.
For more information:
St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation’s Visitor’s Center
https://www.seaway.dot.gov/explore/visitors-center
Interactive Shipping Map and Shipping Schedule:
https://www.seaway.dot.gov/explore/interactive-shipping-map-and-shipping-schedule
