Which locks allow ships to bypass the rapids on the St. Marys River?

The Soo Locks allow ships to bypass rapids on the St. Marys River.

Located at Sault Ste. Marie on the Canada–United States border, the locks lift or lower vessels between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. The river’s rapids made a navigable connection impossible for large ships without an artificial passage.

The first modern lock opened in 1855 on the American side. The system now includes several parallel locks, although not every lock operates year-round or handles every vessel. The American locks are maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

The Soo Locks are crucial to the movement of iron ore, grain, coal, and other bulk cargo. They should not be confused with the Welland Canal, which bypasses Niagara Falls between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.