The International Bridge

Under the International bridge...

Sault Ste Marie, Canada

Waiting in front of the locks

The Locks Visitor Center

Sault Ste Marie Locks

Emergency swing bridge dam

The "Soo Locks" in Sault Ste Marie, USA

The "Soo Locks"

The "Soo"

The "Soo"

The "Soo" Visitor Center

The United States on the opposite side of Lake Huron, seen from Sault Ste Marie, Canada.

Can you see me ??

The marina on the waterfront

Opened in 1895, the Sault Ste Marie Ship Canal was the largest lock in the world and the first to be operated by electric power.

It played an important role in Canada's westward expansion, moving wheat, ore and lumber east and new setllers west.

Included in the design of the Sault Canal was planned this bridge dam for the emergency conditions, should something cause the failure of the lock gates, unlashing a torrent of water from Lake Superior through the locks.

The St Marys River, the only connection between Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes, falls about 21-feet from the level of Lake Superior to the level of the lower lakes.

This natural barrier to vessel navigation made necessary the construction of the locks.

Long ago, the Ojibway Indians, who lived in the area, would carry their canoes around the rapids to reach Lake Superior from the St Marys River.

The first lock, built in 1797 on the Canadian side, was mysteriously destroyed during the war of 1812.

In 1855, the present day lock system began to be developed with the construction of the state lock.

Today, there are five locks in use - four American and one Canadian.

The lock chamber has been filled to the upper level.

Then the upper gates have been opened to allow this ship to enter the lock chamber.

The emptying valve has been opened to allow water to flow from the lock chamber to the lower level.

Once the water level in the lock chamber down to the lower level, the lower gates will be opened to let the ship leave the lock chamber.

The name "Sault Ste Marie" is a combination of the French word "Sault", meaning rapids or falls, and the name of "Ste Marie", the patron saint of the first Jesuit missionaries who visited the area.

Over the years, passing sailors have anglicized this to "Soo".