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Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie

4.6

#1 of 19 in Things to do in Sault Ste. Marie

Landmark Tourist Spot Must See

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See how 10,000 ships travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes every year at Soo Locks. Historically significant, the first versions of these locks were built in 1855 to accommodate a 6.4 m (21 ft) drop between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, and they still are noted for their engineering prowess. Today vessels traveling through the lock system here transport more than 86 million tons of cargo. The locks are named for the two cities on either side of the St. Marys River, one in Michigan and one in Canada. Both cities are names Sault Ste. Marie, with Sault pronounced as "Soo." The locks now make up 2.6 km (1.6 mi) of a canal that is run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Plan your Soo Locks visit and explore what else you can see and do in Sault Ste. Marie using our Sault Ste. Marie travel route planner.

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Soo Locks Reviews

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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

1,452 reviews

Google

4.6

facebook

4.6

3,929 likes

• By RetireeOTR

  Excellent! Almost missed the Stewart Cort...came in right a midnight as the first ship! Visitors center was open special later that day... excellent staff and visitors! Wonderful experience, wonderful...  more »

• By Richard C

  The Soo Locks tour was a good experience. Access to the ship was simple and accessible. We started up through the U.S. side and returned through the Canadian lock. The U.S. side is where the big freig...  more »

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Google

• By Susan Deckard

  If you haven't ever been you need to. I could spend hours just watching the boots and cargo ship's come through. You can look across the locks and see Canada and the state flag flying. People of all ages love to visit.

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• By Marc Beacom

  The Soo Locks are an incredible learning experience for young and old alike. Or kids loved walking around the locks and watching the boats pass through. There are so many shops to walk to within a few blocks. Be sure to grab some fudge.

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