Leonardo da Vinci used miter gates in his canal engineering designs.
A miter gate is formed from two hinged leaves that meet at an angle, usually pointing upstream. Water pressure pushes the leaves against one another and helps seal the lock chamber. Leonardo studied this arrangement while working on canal systems around Milan, where locks were needed to manage changes in water level.
The design made it possible for boats to move between sections of canal at different elevations. Gates could be opened or closed while water levels were controlled, allowing navigation through uneven terrain. Leonardo’s hydraulic studies also examined channels, water flow, and methods of improving transport.
Leonardo did not invent the general principle of canal locks, and miter gates existed before his work. His importance lies in applying careful observation and mechanical analysis to Italian canal engineering. The spelling “mitre gate” is also common in English, but “miter gate” is the standard form used in the cited article.