The wonderful thing about the US Great Lakes is that being fresh water, the ships on the lakes don’t rust like they do in the saltier oceans. Of course being fresh water, the lakes do freeze close enough to solid in the wintertime, so shipping comes to a halt. In recent weeks the ships have started moving on the St. Clair River . Earlier this week the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Welland Canal opened for business and today the Soo Locks between Lake Superior and the lower lakes are scheduled to ocean. The Great Lakes are a wonderful if sometimes confusing place. The water is fresh and there are no tides. The ships, even the 1,000′ bulk carrier,s too large to fit out of the locks, are referred to as “boats” and every travels in miles per hour.
Seaway Opens 53rd Season, 7% Increase Projected
Thanks to Phil Leon for passing the article along.