There are two major canal system in Ohio, the Miami and Erie Canal and the Ohio and Erie Canal. Both canals start at Lake Erie and go south to the Ohio river. Work began on these canals in 1825. The Ohio and Erie canal’s construction, in the eastern part of Ohio, finished in 1833, but it would take the state and it workers another twelve years to finish the Miami and Erie canal, to the west. The canals faced many challenges after completion. They would often flood damaging the walls, locks, and towpaths. They would also sometimes freeze damaging the canals even more. But these difficulties were worth it because of the positive effects the canals had on Ohio. These good things the canals did for Ohio are what make them so important.
