1. By: Ethan, Isabelle, and Noah E.

2.  A canal is different from other water passages because it is man made.  The idea came from Dewitt Clinton in 1810. Thomas Jefferson scoffed at him.(scoff means laugh at.)  The Erie Canal was started on July 4,1817 and completed in 1825.The canal was enlarged in 1835-1865.  The Erie Canal was built because it would be faster and cheaper to ship goods.  The people who helped build the Erie Canal were immigrants.

3.  The Erie Canal connects Lake Erie to the Hudson River,and the Hudson River connects to the Atlantic Ocean.  It took about 8 days to get from Albany to Buffalo on the Erie Canal.  Some cities that are along the Erie Canal are Utica, Syracuse, Buffalo, Albany, Rochester, and Rome.

4.  The canal was used to connect the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Erie. Before the canal it took about 100 dollars to ship a ton, once the Erie Canal was made it took about 10 dollars to ship the same amount.  The Erie Canal is still being used today! It is used from early May - early November.

5.  The length of the Erie canal was 363 miles long,40 feet wide at the top and the bottom was 28 feet. It was 4 feet deep. Also the locks are 90 feet long.  A lock allows a boat to pass from a section of canal at one water level to another area at a different water level.

6. ISABELLE BANTA Noah E.  Hi! My name is Isabelle R. Banta. I have brown hair, brown eyes. Most of my freckles only show up in the SUMMER! I love soccer & swimming. My family & I might move back to Boston. BYE NOW!  Hi! My name is Noah E. I like to build ramps. I also like to skateboard. One interesting fact about the Erie Canal is it was hand dug.

7.  Hello, my name is Ethan. My favorite sport is soccer and my favorite subject is science. I am 10 years old. The most interesting thing I learned about the canal is it is 363 miles long.

8. Sources: “The Erie Canal.” PBS Kids Go! 14 Apr. 2011. “The Erie Canal: A Brief History.” NYS Canals. 14 Apr. 2011. “The Erie Canal: A Journey Through History.” ePodunk. 14 Apr. 2011. “Images of the Erie Canal in Syracuse.” The Erie Canal. 14 Apr. 2011.