Water Locks

engineering · waterways · boats · clever machines

Moving boats up and down. Locks are chambers that hold water and let boats move between stretches of river or canal that are at different heights. It's like an elevator, but for ships instead of people.

Water level changes. A lock fills with water to lift a boat up, or drains to lower it down. The boat floats on the water the whole time, so it stays safe and dry.

Gates seal the water in. Big gates close the chamber so the water level can rise or fall without the boat moving. When the water reaches the right height, the gate opens and the boat floats out to continue its journey.

Different types exist. Some locks are regular chambers in fixed positions, while others called boat lifts have a chamber that actually rises and falls like an elevator. Canal inclined planes are another type that tilts to move boats.

Human-made waterways. Locks make it possible to use boats on rivers and canals even when the land isn't flat. Without locks, boats couldn't travel between areas at different heights.