Soo Locks

The Soo Locks, located in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, are a remarkable feat of American engineering and a cornerstone of Great Lakes shipping. First constructed in 1855 by the State of Michigan, the original lock—known as the State Lock—was built to bypass the 21-foot drop caused by the St. Marys River rapids between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Prior to its construction, ships had to unload their cargo and portage it around the rapids, a laborious and inefficient process that limited trade. In 1881, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took over operation and maintenance, expanding the system to meet growing commercial demands.  Today, more than 7,000 ships pass through annually, transporting tens of millions of tons of essential cargo such as iron ore, coal, and grain, making the Soo Locks an enduring artery of North American industry and commerce.

The Saint Marys Falls Hydropower Plant is one of the oldest continuously operating hydroelectric plants in the United States. Completed in 1902, this historic facility was built to harness the power of the St. Marys River as it drops between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. The powerhouse stretches over 1,300 feet and features striking Romanesque architecture made from locally quarried sandstone. It was built to contain 74 generators under a single roof, making it one of the largest hydro plants of its time. Water is diverted from the river through a two-mile-long power canal to drive turbines that generate clean electricity, supplying a significant portion of the Eastern Upper Peninsula’s power needs. Recognized as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, the plant remains a vital and impressive example of early 20th-century engineering.

Each stone was individually cut and hand layed

The Museum Ship Valley Camp, moored in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is a retired Great Lakes freighter built in 1917 and now open as an immersive maritime museum. Inside the holds are four impressive 1,200-gallon aquariums showcasing native Great Lakes fish, crew quarters including the captain’s cabin and more modest crew bunk rooms, and detailed shipwreck artifacts, models, paintings, and maritime memorabilia. 

Our captain and narrator guided us through the journey with expert knowledge bringing the history and operation of the locks to life

Very large ship heading down river

Tying off in the lock

The Canadian tour boat tying off behind us

Lock gates closing 

Going up. 

It takes about eight minutes to raise boats 21 feet through the lock, as water rushes in at an incredible rate of one million gallons per minute.

Lock gates opening

Algoma Steel, located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is Canada’s second largest steel producer and a vital part of the country’s industrial landscape. Algoma specializes in manufacturing hot- and cold-rolled steel sheet and plate products, serving industries such as automotive, construction, energy, and manufacturing. 

The stock piles of the three ingredients need to produce steel, iron ore, coke, and limestone. It takes 2.5 tons of these material to produce one ton of steel

Rolls of steel waiting for transport 

Returning down river we navigated the Canadian locks

Going down

Heading back to port. 

It was interesting learning how the locks worked.