The Big Chute

OK, it's time to get out your history and geography books, eh.



Today about 20 of us, with the help of our park social committee went to visit The Big Chute which some had heard of and some not. This piece of Canada's history is part of the Trent Severn Waterway which runs from the north shore of Lake Ontario through 240 miles of lakes and canals and 45 locks and ends up in Georgian Bay where we used to go.

This transportation system, like the Eire Canal one was started in the early 1800's and by the time complete was made obsolete by more modern transportation systems. Today it is used mostly by the pleasure boat crowd to wander this part of central Ontario and its thousands of lakes and rivers.

OK, now on to the Chute. In the top photo above the sign you can see the cradle which is partially submerged at its starting position in the upper lake.

Pleasure craft up to 100' putt-putt into the cradle where they are secured by straps ...

Then the whole thing moves out of the water, across a road and descends to another lake 60 feet below ...

... while we followed ... the trip taking about 10 minutes to complete.

And gently deposits them into the lower lake to motor on their trip. When these boats exited the rig more were waiting to make the trip up in the reverse direction.

This thing was the result of necessity as funding was reduced before the last couple of normal water locks could be constructed and remains one of two of these water railways in the world.

After the show we all adjourned to a restaurant in the nearby town of Severn Falls ... fun afternoon and really fascinating.