Canals of the World Trivia Quiz

Answer: China

In China, the Grand Canal (Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal) is 1,115 miles long. Running from Beijing to Hangzhou, it links the major rivers of China, particularly the Yellow and Yangtze, and is designed to decrease the time needed for shipping. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it was first opened in 485 BCE.

It has a long history of building and rebuilding from such problems as floods, earthquake damage, poor maintenance and the like, and has experienced many times when only part of the canal was navigable.

It is still used to move cargo and people, and is a major tourist attraction.

Answer: Panama Canal

The United States took over from the French in 1904 and opened the Panama Canal in 1914. The canal, about 50 miles long, cuts through the Isthmus of Panama and links the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It is generally considered one of the greatest engineering feats ever. Once completed, it shortened a ship's voyage from New York to San Francisco from about 13,000 miles to some 5200 miles. [In 1901, the work of a medical team led by Dr. Walter Reed determined that Yellow Fever was transmitted to humans by mosquitoes.

This discovery led to a sharp decline in the mortality rate (which had plagued the French), allowing the United States to build the canal.]

Answer: Canal du Midi

The Canal du Midi is a 150 mile network of 328 structures, including locks, bridges, and tunnels. Beginning at the Mediterranean in southern France, it connects to the 120 mile long Canal de Garonne, forming the Canal des Deux Mers and connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean.

Answer: Irish Sea

Built between 1887 and 1894, the Manchester Ship Canal transformed Manchester from a river port to a seaport. It runs 36 miles from Manchester to the Mersey Estuary near Liverpool. Although it turned Manchester into a major port, the canal can no longer handle most modern ocean-going vessels and much of its traffic is containers transported by barge.

Answer: Erie Canal

The song "Low Bridge, Everybody Down" (also called "Erie Canal Song" and "Fifteen Miles on The Erie Canal," among other titles) celebrates the early years of Erie Canal in New York that runs from Lake Erie in Buffalo to the Hudson River in Albany, some 363 miles. Built between 1817 and 1825, it linked the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. For many years, the canal boats were propelled by mule- and horsepower before they were replaced by engine power.

Besides moving goods, the canal was primarily responsible for the rapid development of such places as Utica, Syracuse, and Rochester.

When the larger New York State Barge Canal opened in 1918, the Erie Canal became obsolete. It is now used almost exclusively for recreation.

Answer: Kiel

Built between 1887 and 1895, the Kiel Canal in northern Germany extends 61 miles linking the North and Baltic seas. It initially eliminated the need for German naval vessels to travel around the Danish peninsula, as well as provide a commercial shipping route.

It was enlarged in 1907-1914 to accommodate larger naval ships. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Kiel Canal is still heavily used because it it continues to provide a short, safe, and inexpensive route between the two seas.

Answer: Suez

The Suez Canal was constructed between 1859 and 1869, and has been improved several times since then. The canal runs about 120 miles from Port Said in the north to Suez in the south, connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. When it opened, it cut the route between Great Britain and India by more than 6025 miles.

The canal had a very rocky history in the mid 20th century. Egypt became a republic in 1953. In July of 1956, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal 12 years before it was to be turned over to Egypt.

In October of 1956, Israel invaded the Sinai Peninsula and Britain and France tried to take control of the canal. Egypt sank 40 ships in the canal and Britain and France withdrew. The canal reopened in 1957. During the Six Days War in June, 1967, Egypt blockaded the Suez Canal, a blockade that was finally lifted in 1975.

Answer: Sweden

The Gota Canal, 120 miles long, was built in Sweden between 1810 and 1832 as part of a 382 mile waterway to the Baltic Sea primarily to avoid the heavy tolls on shipping charged by Denmark for passage through the Oresund Channel to the Baltic Sea. Because it was impassible for the five months of winter the canal was not a commercial success. Early in the 21st century, it connects Lake Vanern in the north with Lake Vattern in the south, and provides exceptional recreational facilities for boating, canoeing, kayaking, cycling, and hiking.

Answer: Caledonian Canal

The Caledonian Canal was built between 1805 and 1847. It is a system of canals, locks, and lakes that unites lochs Dochfour, Ness, Oich, and Lochy. Originally built for commercial traffic, it is now used for recreation, pleasure crafts, and fishing.

Answer: Erie and Ontario

The Welland Canal was initially built between 1824 and 1829. Between 1839 and 1932, it was redesigned and extended several times to produce the final 27 mile waterway from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. Although it closes in the winter (January-March), it is a major part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway (which runs in Canada and the United States about 2400 miles connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the western end of Lake Superior).