Beaver and Erie Canal

The Beaver and Erie Canal, also known as the Erie Extension Canal, was part of the Pennsylvania Canal system and consisted of three sections: the Beaver Division, the Shenango Division, and the Conneaut Division. The canal ran 136 miles (219 km) north–south near the western edge of the state from the Ohio River to Lake Erie through Beaver County, Lawrence County, Mercer County, Crawford County, and Erie County, Pennsylvania.

Beaver and Erie Canal
Map of historic Pennsylvania canals
Specifications
Locks137
StatusHistoric, abandoned
History
Original ownerCommonwealth of Pennsylvania
Construction began1831
Date completed1844
Date closed1872
Geography
Start pointBeaver, Pennsylvania
End pointErie, Pennsylvania
Branch(es)Beaver, Shenango, and Conneaut Divisions
Branch ofPennsylvania Canal
Connects toOhio River, Sandy and Beaver Canal, Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal, French Creek Feeder, Lake Erie
Designations:
Pennsylvania Historical Marker
Designated1948

The southern terminus of the canal was the confluence of the Beaver River with the Ohio River in Beaver County about 20 miles (32 km) downstream from Pittsburgh, and the northern terminus was the city of Erie, in Erie County. The canal needed a total of 137 locks to overcome a change in elevation of 977 feet (298 m).

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