Lake Huron is 21 feet lower than Lake Superior, which means that somehow the water must fall, tumble or otherwise be moved that distance. A series of rapids -- rapids that required boats to be portaged around them -- served that purpose until the Soo Locks were constructed in 1855.
How the locks work:
- A boat or ship enters the locks when the water is at its level -- the lock is at the high (filled) state if the boat comes from Lake Superior, and at the low state if from Lake Huron. If the lock is at the wrong state for the boat coming in, the Lock Master must fill or empty the lock.
- The gates behind the boat are closed forming a (relatively) water-tight enclosure.
- Openings in the gates that are hidden beneath the water are opened. If the boat is to be raised, the Superior-side gate is opened, and the water rushes in to fill the lock to the level of Superior. If the boat is to be lowered, the Huron-side is opened, and the higher water within the lock drains out, lowering the boat. Other than opening and closing the gates and the hidden drains, no pumps or other mechanical devices are needed.
- Once the boat is raised or lowered, the gate in front of the boat is opened, and it sails away.
We took a boat tour through the locks. Here are the pictures as we first traveled from Huron (lower) to Superior (higher). The first one is as we are entering the lock at the lowest water level, the second as we are floated higher, and the third as the gates are opening for us to enter Lake Superior:
On the way back, we entered the locks when the water was high, and descended as it was drained. The first is just as we are entering the lock, the second and third as we are descending, and the last is as the gates are opening for us to move into Lake Huron:
Now here's the promised Photo Caption Contest:
Just as we started to (very, very slowly) descend, I said to John, "Put your hands in the air like you're a daredevil on a roller coaster who refuses to hang on" -- and he did! I took the photo, but didn't count on the reaction of a bystander.
So what should the caption be? John suggested, "I hope I'm never this old!" Bragging rights only, but please give this photo the caption it deserves!
7 comments:
I can make up my own to this one. I really look stupid. I want y'all to know that this is the end of my modeling career!!
"Excuse me... is there a rest room on board the bus?"
Seriously, just wanted to hijack your thread with a story. Our family has fond memories of being in that exact spot. It was December, cold, some folks in the visitor center but nobody else around outside, lots of snow on the ground. Kids were about 4 and 8. We started throwing snowballs down into the water. It seemed that a BIGGER snowball would be more fun... one thing led to another... soon we were rolling up snowman-sized balls, so big I could barely lift them. I would back up to the fence, and with one mighty heave, swing it up and toss it over my head backwards. SO satisfying to see a 2-foot diameter snowball plummet 30 or 40 feet, then hear it go WHHOOOOMPH as it hit the water.
Well, anyway, been a while since I checked in on this here blog. Hope you are well, I'll try to do some catch up reading.
"Give me a high five, Billy"
"I don't know you lady and my name is not Billy"
If this is the hokey pokey, is this what life is really all about?
Hey kid, you wanna smell my hands and then guess where they’ve been.
"You haven't been on a water ride in a while, have you, Gramps?"
Awww, c’mon kid; if you play just one game of patty-cake, I’ll let you try on my cool hat.
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