Which Canadian canal connects Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, bypassing Niagara Falls?

The Welland Canal connects Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, bypassing Niagara Falls. Its route crosses Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula, linking Port Weller near St. Catharines with Port Colborne on Lake Erie.

The canal was created because the Niagara River, the natural connection between the lakes, could not carry ships past Niagara Falls. Construction began in 1824, and the first canal opened in 1829. Several rebuilding projects followed as ships grew larger; the current, fourth canal opened in 1932.

Today, the Welland Canal forms part of the Great Lakes Waterway and the St. Lawrence Seaway system. Ships use eight locks to climb or descend the Niagara Escarpment, overcoming an elevation difference of about 99.5 metres between the two lakes.

A common mix-up is the Erie Canal, which links the Hudson River and Lake Erie across New York State. The Welland Canal is the direct Canadian route between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and is the waterway that avoids Niagara Falls.