Chambly Canal
Encyclopedia
The Chambly Canal is a National Historic Site of Canada in the Province of Quebec
, running along the Richelieu River
past Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Carignan
, and Chambly
. Building commenced in 1831 and the canal opened in 1843. It served as a major commercial route during a time of heightened trade between the United States and Canada. Trade dwindled after World War I, and as of the 1970s, traffic has been replaced by recreational vessels.
It is part of a waterway that connects the Saint Lawrence River
with the Hudson River
in the United States. Lake Champlain
and the Champlain Canal
form the U.S. portion of the Lakes to Locks Passage
.
The Canal has 10 bridges - 8 of which are hand operated - and one hydraulic locks.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, running along the Richelieu River
Richelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
past Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Carignan
Carignan, Quebec
Carignan is a town in southwestern Quebec, Canada on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La-Vallée-du-Richelieu. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 7,426....
, and Chambly
Chambly, Quebec
Chambly is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada, about to the south east of Montreal.- Geography :It sits on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La-Vallée-du-Richelieu, at .-History:...
. Building commenced in 1831 and the canal opened in 1843. It served as a major commercial route during a time of heightened trade between the United States and Canada. Trade dwindled after World War I, and as of the 1970s, traffic has been replaced by recreational vessels.
It is part of a waterway that connects the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
with the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
in the United States. Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
and the Champlain Canal
Champlain Canal
The Champlain Canal is a canal that connects the south end of Lake Champlain to the Hudson River in New York. It was simultaneously constructed with the Erie Canal and is now part of the New York State Canal System and the Lakes to Locks Passage....
form the U.S. portion of the Lakes to Locks Passage
Lakes to Locks Passage
The New York State byway known as Lakes to Locks Passage unifies the interconnected waterway of the upper Hudson River, Champlain Canal, Lake George, and Lake Champlain; this waterway is the core of North America’s first “super-highway” between upstate New York, USA and the Province of Quebec, Canada...
.
The Canal has 10 bridges - 8 of which are hand operated - and one hydraulic locks.
- Draft: 6.5 ft (1.98 m)
- Clearance: 29 ft (8.84 m)
- Canal Length: 12 mi (18.96 km)
- Dimensions of smallest lock: 110 ft x 21 ft (33.52 x 7m)
- Passage time: 3 to 5 hours