Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs): A Canadian approved PFD is designed to keep you afloat in the water. PFDs were designed for use in recreational boating and are generally smaller, less bulky and more comfortable than lifejackets.
The Erie Canal, in New York state (shown below), was 360 mi (580 km) long, and connected New York with the Great Lakes via the Hudson River. Locks were built to overcome the 571-ft (174-m) difference between the level of the river and that of Lake Erie.
Erie Canal Distances. The Erie Canal is the longest canal section in the New York State Canal System. Beginning at lock #E-2 in Waterford, NY, the Erie Canal runs 293 NM (337 SM or 543 KM) to the Niagara River at Tonawanda, NY and from there onto Buffalo, NY and Lake Erie via the Black Rock Canal.