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Canals Although short-lived, the canal era brought prosperity to Ohio and a new appreciation of what man could accomplish. Over 996 miles of canals, 460 locks and dozens of aqua ducts and bridges were built by hand during the twenty years of the canal's construction. Maintaining the 4-foot water level in the "big ditches" was quite a feat, due to varying elevation and rainfall. To supply the necessary water, huge reservoirs were created. When the canal system fell into disuse, parks were developed at the reservoirs.In western Ohio, the Miami & Erie Canal was fed by the reservoirs at Mary Jane Thurston, Independence Dam, Grand Lake St. Marys, Indian Lake, and Lake Loramie. A Journey along the tow-path is still possible near Lake Loramie and Grand Lake St. Marys, once the world’s largest man-made lake. A few of Ohio’s lakes, including Buckeye Lake, were remnants of the last glacial period; typically shallow and marshy, they were enlarged and deepened by canal labor. |
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