Sault Ste. Marie in Algoma District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Opening and Closing the Gates
⎯⎯⎯
Ouverture et fermeture des portes

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 11, 2024

1. Opening and Closing the Gates / Ouverture et fermeture des portes Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[English] The largest lock in the world also had the largest gates. The gates were 13 metres (42.7 feet) high, 11.3 metres (37 feet) wide, and 0.6 metres (2 feet) thick. At first, solid gates that size were considered too heavy, so lighter gates were made from planking on a timber frame. These gates were strengthened and stiffened by iron rods and braces, but they were still not strong enough to take the wear and tear of use and the amount of water pressure in the lock when full. In September 1901 solid timber gates of Douglas Fir were installed for the first time despite the problem of added weight. Solid steel gates were installed when the recreational lock was built (1996-1998).

[Français] La plus grande écluse au monde était également dotée des plus grandes portes. Elles mesuraient 13 mètres (42,7 pieds) de hauteur et 11,3 mètres (37 pieds) de largeur et 0.6 mètres (2 pieds) d'épaisseur. Au début, des portes pleines de cette dimension furent jugées trop lourdes, et par conséquent des portes plus légères furent construites avec des planches fixées à un cadre de poutres. Ces portes ont été renforcées et rendues

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plus rigides par des tiges et des contrevents en fer, mais elles n'étaient toujours pas suffisamment solides pour supporter un usage intensif et la pression de l'eau dans l'écluse lorsqu'elle était pleine. En septembre 1901, des portes de bois pleines en Douglas taxifolié ont été, installées pour la première fois malgré le problème du surplus de poids. Des portes d'acier pleines ont été installées lors de la construction de l'écluse de plaisance (1996-1998).

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1901.

Location. 46° 30.78′ N, 84° 20.993′ W. Marker is in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, in Algoma District. It can be reached from Canal Drive 0.7 kilometers south of Huron Street, on the left when traveling west. The marker is located along the interpretive walkway at the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Canal Drive, Sault Ste Marie ON P6A 6W4, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma Area

and in Northern

Marker detail: Gate Diagram / Diagramme de porte image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Gate Diagram / Diagramme de porte

Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Great North Woods,

on the Great Lakes,

on Lake Superior’s North Shore,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Canal Under Construction, 1894 / Le canal en construction, 1894 (within shouting distance of this marker); Waterfront / Les Rives (within shouting distance of this marker); The Sault's Industrial Heritage / Le patrimoine industriel du Sault (within shouting distance of this marker); A National Historic Site at the Sault / Un lieu historique national au Sault (within shouting distance of this marker); The All Canadian Waterway (1895-1959) / La voie navigable entièrement canadienne (1895-1959) (within shouting distance of this marker); The Sault Canal / Le canal du Sault (within shouting distance of this marker); Equality and Multiculturalism / Égalité et

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 11, 2024

3. Opening and Closing the Gates / Ouverture et fermeture des portes Marker

The marker is mounted on the canal house, overlooking the east gate.

multiculturalisme (within shouting distance of this marker); Celebrating Indigenous History and Heritage / Célébrons l'histoire et le patrimoine autochtones (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sault Ste. Marie.

Also see . . . Sault Ste. Marie Canal (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: National Historic Site in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and part of the national park system managed by Parks Canada. It includes a lock to bypass the rapids on the St. Marys River. The construction of the canal and lock was completed in 1895. At that time it was the largest lock and first electrically operated lock in the world. The canal is about 1 mile long and originally the lock portion was 899 feet long and 59 feet wide. Due to a wall failure in 1987, the historic lock was shut down indefinitely. A new lock, built within the old lock, was opened in 1998 and is 253 feet long, 51 feet wide, 44 feet deep, with a 9.8 feet draft. The canal is used for recreational and tour boats; major shipping traffic uses the U.S. locks. Most of the original machinery used to operate the lock is still in place.

(Submitted
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 11, 2024

4. The east canal gate (open)
Looking southeast from near the marker.
on May 19, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 87 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 19, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Opening and Closing the Gates⎯⎯⎯Ouverture et fermeture des portes

Opening and Closing the Gates
⎯⎯⎯
Ouverture et fermeture des portes