|
|
About
The Trent-Severn Waterway
|
|
....
The
Trent-Severn Waterway 'begins' at it's south-eastern point on the Bay
of Quinte on
eastern Lake Ontario
and
extends in a north-westerly direction to Port
Severn where the Severn River flows into Georgian Bay.
Boaters can travel end to end - or from any point along
the system to each of the connected great lakes and beyond. For those
of us fortunate enough to live along the waterway, this opens up access
to virtually endless destinations beyond our home waters.
Please
note that the Trent Severn Waterway is owned by the people of Canada
via the Canadian Federal Government and is managed through Parks
Canada. For specific information regarding the operation of the system
(including maintenance, technical queries or special requests, please
contact the Trent Severn Waterway National Historic Site at 'ont.trentsevern@pc.gc.ca'.
For ease of navigating this site, we have divided
the
Waterway into four individual regions:
Use the menu at left to
explore each of
these regions.
The
overall length of the system is 240 miles (386 km) and features 44
locks, including the first and second highest liftlocks on
the world, 2 flight locks and one marine railway. It took
87 years to
complete, from 1833, when the
first lock was
constructed, until the final
leg of the system opened in 1920.
The
Waterway is made up of a number of interconnected
lakes, rivers, canals and cuts. Since many of these waters are at
varying elevations, a series of locks were built to allow
vessels to transit the system from end to end. In fact, boats
transiting from Lake Ontario are raised 596 feet (182m) to the summit
at Balsam Lake and then decent 262 feet (80m) down to Georgian Bay.
Initially, the first elements of the system were dams and
locks,
built
to accommodate water powered mills and the movement of timbers cut by
local logging companies. As time passed, pressure was mounted to join
various sections of the future waterway. Over many years, these efforts
saw only limited success. Ultimately,
the increasing populations
of the various districts saw their influence contribute to it's
completion.
|
|
By the time
the waterway was
completed, it's original purpose as transportation
corridor had been overshadowed by an expanding railway network, as well
as the increased reliance on the automobile. As use along the system
fell off, there had actually
been call to fill in portions to make better use of the space.
Fortunately, this was never followed through with and the popularity
of recreational boating saw a renewed interest with an upswing in the
number of users.
What
was once a loose amalgamation of varying interests is
now a
unified waterway, operated by Parks Canada. It's importance is
recognized by it's designation as a National Historic Site Of Canada.
|
|
|
Waterway
Fast
Facts
Total number of locks: 44
Length: 240 miles (386 km)
Number of
bridges: 60
Number of Dams: 125
Number Of Swing
Bridges: 39
Capacity Of Hydroelectric
Facilities: 100
Megawatts/Day
Number Of Lockages in 2011: 120,000
|
Important
Notice
Changes
to Chart Data and Aids To Navigation
along the Waterway;
Boaters
planing to venture onto
the Waterway should be aware of any changes to the chart information.
Updates can be found on the Notice To Mariners web site (www.notmar.gc.ca). |
|
|
Today,
the Trent-Severn Waterway allows visitors,
residents and entrepreneurs a place to vacation, live and operate
thriving businesses.
Boaters
share this beautiful area with local cottagers, rental
houseboats,
fishermen and local and long term cruisers. As an integral part
of the
'America's Great Loop', one can swap stories with those fortunate souls
making the year long journey through the American mid-west, Gulf of
Mexico, Eastern Seaboard and central Great Lakes region. The
Trent-Severn Waterway plays a vital link in that journey.
No matter how long your journey lasts, you will feel you are
part
of
the history and hope that your future will hold a return trip.
 |
|
|
|
