Background Information
The odds of finding canals connecting Lake Winnipeg to Lake Superior are high, given their proximity. The two Great Lakes of North America, which are located in the Prairie Provinces of Canada and far Northern United States respectively, are separated by an approximately 318 kilometres land between them via the Prairie provinces. There is no existing direct canal or waterway link between the two lakes.
It is not impossible to build a connection between the two lakes, given that engineers have built canals and waterways connecting other North American Great Lakes in the past, including the Welland Canal between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, the Saint Lawrence Seaway connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal connecting Lake Michigan to the Illinois River.
Data and Perspectives from Experts
According to Dr. Jim Cross, who is a specialist in aquatic ecology and professor of zoology at the University of Winnipeg, a canal from Lake Winnipeg to Lake Superior could be a monumental engineering feat, given the proximity of the two lakes and the vast differences in size between them. Lake Winnipeg is the 11th largest lake in the world and approximately 64.3 times bigger than Lake Superior.
Furthermore, according to Dr. Cross, while canals have been built to link rivers and other lakes, such a massive feat would be unprecedented. A proposal has been put forth to build a canal using Winnipeg’s Assiniboine River and Lake Manitoba and then a cut to the Saskatchewan River, however this plan would require expensive construction on provincial lands, raising the cost of the project exponentially.
Reality also serves as a hindrance to such a project. During the winter months, temperatures can drop drastically and freeze across provinces miles and miles away from the two Great Lakes. This season has the potential to severely disrupt construction by leaving the ground soft and risky for heavy machinery.
Own Insights and Analysis
The financial ramifications of attempting to construct a canal connecting the two Great Lakes, must also be taken into consideration. Conducting such a project would be a massive undertaking and the cost would obviously reflect that. Countless environmental, safety and financial regulations, as well as permitting issues, would need to be met before the project even started. Furthermore, the construction project itself would be expensive, with the need for a great deal of professional labour and construction crews needed to complete the task.
Perhaps an alternate solution could be of better use. One way to connect the two great lakes, would be to implement innovative technology, such as a pipeline. A pipeline from one lake to the other, could cost less, due to the fact that a great deal of the transportation and installation of the pipes could be done by machines.
Environmental Impact
There is also the potential for ecological disruption with a project of this magnitude. The potential release of toxic pollutants, arising from heavy machinery use and the dredging, could cause long-term damage to the aquatic ecosystems of both lakes.
Construction of a canal between two large inland lakes can also appear to be counter-productive. When two sources of water connect and, in this case one of them being much larger than the other, the water level of the larger one will eventually rise, nearby homes and businesses could potentially be affected by flooding.
Aesthetics and Socioeconomic Impact
Creating a canal between these two natural wonders could be an aesthetically pleasing endeavour, with walking paths, bike lanes and other recreational activities lined on either side of the canal. The cities situated on the banks of Lake Winnipeg and Lake Superior, have the potential to expand and flourish, building around the Canal as a great tourist destination.
However, there is potential for socio-economic injustices to arise, should a canal between the two lakes be pursued. Landowners along the canal’s path would be forced to cede their land to the government for construction purposes, and although local expanding opportunities can be entertaining, the potential uprooting of entire families, destroying the fabric of small towns and native communities, should not be taken lightly.
Political Support
Finally, there must be political support in order for a project of this scale to be achieved. Combined support from both Canadian and American governments would be necessary in order to see an undertaking such as this through until completion.
Given the massive amounts of international co-operation necessary, not to mention the amount of money and resources that would need to be put in, it is unlikely that such a canal will be attempted in the near future.
Technological Challenges
Building a canal connecting Lake Winnipeg to Lake Superior would be a monumental task, requiring immense amounts of engineering work. The vast size difference between the two Great Lakes would obviously present a challenge when trying to find a direct link. It would require massive amounts of technological innovation, such as the invention of new varieties of dredging equipment, such as floating dredging machines or precise engineered towboats that can adroitly navigate the seemingly dangerous environment. This could only be achieved with the help of leading professionals, knowledgeable in the area of hydraulic engineering – the study of the effects of forces and energy of moving water.
Experienced geologists and engineers would also be necessary in order to ensure that the water in the new canal was safely transported from one lake to the next, as well as to protect the homes and businesses of people living in the lakes’ vicinity from potential floods caused by the influx of extra water.
Improving Infrastructure
In addition to the engineering and technological challenges, the infrastructure improvements along and near the canal path that would have to be made in order to construct the canal, would have to be taken into consideration. This would include necessary projects such as bridge expansions, widening of the canal edges for access of both pedestrians and through traffic, and railroad improvements.
The reality is that the building of a canal between the two Great Lakes would be a near impossible task, taking not only a huge financial investment to complete, but also the perfect combination of environmental, engineering, economic and bureaucratic luck.
Potential Negative Impact
On top of the sheer complexity of the task, there are environmental concerns to consider. The canal could provide an easy pathway for invasive species to travel along, damaging local ecosystems. There is also the potential for additional pollution in the canals due to ships travelling between the two lakes, not to mention increased fishing, which could lead to overfishing in both Lake Winnipeg and Lake Superior.
Financial Investment and Risk
The financial investment necessary for a canal project between the two Great Lakes could be daunting, to say the least. Not only would it require a large amount of money to fund, but the risk would be high. The slightest failure of such a complex project could cost taxpayers a fortune, and the possibility of a project of this magnitude failing, is quite high.
Although some may argue that the connection of two Great Lakes could boost the local economy, the financial, environmental and social risks are high, so it could be a venture that isn’t worth taking on.
