St. Lawrence Seaway

I splash and sparkle in the sun. I am a long, watery road that goes from big, freshwater lakes all the way to the salty ocean. Big boats, as long as tall buildings, float on my back. They toot their horns to say hello! Toot! Toot! I help them travel a very long way. I am a special path made of water, connecting friends. Can you guess who I am? I am the St. Lawrence Seaway!

A very long time ago, people from two friendly countries, Canada and the United States, had a wonderful idea. They wanted to help giant ships travel all the way from the Great Lakes to the big ocean. So, starting on August 10th, 1954, they began to work together like a big team. They built special 'water elevators' called locks. It's like magic! A boat floats into a lock, and whoosh! The water level changes, and the boat goes up, up, up or down, down, down. It was a very big job, but everyone helped. When I was all finished, Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight D. Eisenhower came for a happy party on June 26th, 1959, to celebrate my grand opening. Everyone cheered!

Today, I am busier than ever! I carry so many important things on my big ships. I carry yummy grain for making bread and cookies, shiny steel for building cars and toys, and lots of other treasures. I am like a floating highway that connects friends from all around the world, helping them share their special things. I love feeling the big ships glide along my water, knowing I am helping people everywhere. I am a proud water path that brings countries together, one happy boat at a time.