Which ship canal opened in 1894 to let ocean-going ships reach Manchester?

The Manchester Ship Canal opened in 1894, giving ocean-going ships a navigable route from the Irish Sea to Manchester.

The canal runs from Eastham on the Mersey Estuary to Salford Quays, following or connecting with parts of the Mersey and Irwell systems. Construction began in 1887 after years of political and financial opposition, especially from Liverpool interests that feared losing port traffic. Engineer Edward Leader Williams helped develop the scheme.

The canal opened to traffic on 1 January 1894, although Queen Victoria performed the formal ceremony on 21 May. It allowed Manchester to function as an inland seaport roughly 36 miles from the coast. The new Port of Manchester handled imports such as cotton and timber and competed directly with Liverpool.

The canal was designed for seagoing vessels, but modern container ships are often too large for its locks, bridges and channel. Its purpose is therefore easy to confuse with that of ordinary inland canals such as the Kennet and Avon or Grand Union. The Caledonian Canal, meanwhile, crosses Scotland and links the North Sea with the Atlantic through the Great Glen.