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A channel built
to carry water for irrigation or navigation
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Canals are like man-made mini-rivers. They are good for moving water from one place to another. The water helps farmers water their land to grow crops. Without canals, farmers in dry areas could not have good crops. |
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Large canals are good for transportation. Canal boats travel up and down the canal carrying crops and goods from one place to another. Canals are safer than rivers because they do not have natural hazards like sandbars or rocks. Ships can travel on deep canals. If the water in the canal is not deep, barges are used. |
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Ship canals are generally of two kinds: those that connect two lakes or oceans, such as the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal, and those that link an inland port to the ocean, such as the Manchester Ship Canal and the Houston Ship Channel. | |
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In the U.S., a famous canal called the Erie Canal opened in 1825. Soon, canals were being built in many places. Canals for transportation are still used today, but they are expensive to build. It is easier to have trucks and trains move crops and goods along our modern highway and train track system. | |
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Life along the Erie Canal in the 1800's |
Related Terms channel - similar to a canal river - a river is natural and a canal is man made |
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© Nibble University 2000-2008
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