Top 2 in Top 10 longest canals in the world.
The length of the canal is 584 km (363 mi), the channel width is 12 metres (39 feet) deep, 1.2 m (4 feet). The whole canal total has 83 dams.
The Erie Canal is the first means of transportation to the East coast and the western mainland, much quicker than the most commonly used animal drag trucks at the time. Channel Erie not only speeds up shipping but also reduces 95% of shipping costs in coastal and inland areas. Fast channel traffic makes the western part of New York more accessible.