Lachine Canal, Canal and national historic site in Montreal, Canada
Lachine Canal is a national historic site and waterway in southwestern Montreal that links the Old Port to Lake Saint-Louis while passing through several neighborhoods. Five locks regulate water levels along the route, which spans roughly 14.5 kilometers (9 miles).
The waterway opened in 1825 to bypass the dangerous Lachine Rapids that blocked ship traffic heading upstream toward Lake Ontario. Within a few decades, the surrounding area grew into a major manufacturing center that fueled Montreal's growth as a trading hub.
The waterway takes its name from rapids that early French explorers encountered while searching for a route to China. Along the banks today, red brick warehouses and former mill buildings now house apartments, offices and restaurants.
From May through October, visitors can cycle, paddle or walk along the towpaths, with several access points reachable by public transit. Guided tours run during the warmer months, and the paths are generally easy to navigate in dry weather.
The hydraulic power from the waterway drove hundreds of factories, creating Canada's first major industrial corridor in the 1840s. Today, herons and turtles sometimes swim in the calm water, even though the area was filled with smoke and machine noise a century ago.
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