“We welcome visitors into the park for the 2022 Soo Locks season opening. The park and viewing platform will open March 24 at 11:30 p.m. and close March 25 at 1:30 a.m. The Visitor Center will open March 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for an open house,” Chief Park Ranger Michelle Briggs said.
- May 22 - June 12. 10:00 am 1:00 pm 3:30 pm. June 13 - June 21. ...
- June 22 - August 20. 10:00 am 11:00 am 12:30 pm 1:45 pm 3:00 pm 4:30 pm. August 21 - September 2. ...
- September 3 & 4 Labor Day Weekend. 10:00 am 11:30 am 12:30 pm 1:30 pm 3:00 pm 4:00 pm 5:30 pm. September 5 - October 15.
When are the Soo Locks open?
The Visitor Center at the Soo Locks is open daily from Mothers Day through mid-October. The center features exhibits about the locks, Great Lakes shipping and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
How do I contact the Soo Locks boat schedule hotline?
For ship arrival estimates call 906-253-9290. The Army Corps of Engineers worked with the Soo Locks Visitor Center Association to bring the call center back into operation. The Soo Locks Boat Schedule Hotline is back in operation! Call 906-253-9290 for estimated vessel arrival times between...
When will the Sault Sainte Marie visitor center open in 2022?
The Visitor Center will open March 25, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the Annual Open House and will open for the 2022 season May 8, 2022. People have been coming to Sault Sainte Marie since the 1850s to watch boats passing through the locks.
How many people visit the Soo Locks each year?
Affectionately called the “Linchpin of the Great Lakes” by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Soo Locks are an engineering marvel with roots dating back to the mid-1800s. Each year it’s estimated that 500,000 people visit these iconic locks that connect Lakes Superior and Huron.
What is the Soo Locks?
How many ships pass through the Soo Locks?
How much iron ore moves through the Soo Locks?
How many feet is the Poe Lock?
When were the Sabin and Davis locks built?
When was the Weitzel Lock opened?
Is Soo Locks Park open?
See 4 more
About this website
Is there a schedule for the Soo Locks?
It's important to remember that there is no set schedule or 100 percent accurate way to predict when a freighter will be passing through the Soo Locks.
How often do freighters go through the Soo Locks?
A man-made marvel and the busiest lock system in the world, by cargo tonnage, yes the Soo Locks! On average, between seven and ten thousand ships come through the locks during the shipping season each year. Built in 1855, these locks connect Lake Superior to Lake Huron and beyond.
Do the Soo Locks close in the winter?
Each year, more than 4,500 vessels use the locks. They are carrying up to 80 million tons of cargo. The winter closing of the Soo Locks does not mean cargo traffic is over for the season on the Great Lakes. The lower lakes are still seeing freighters plying the waters with their loads.
Are the Soo Locks open in the winter?
Although the Visitor Center is open seasonally, the park is open year round, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. in the summer months, 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. in May, September and October and from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. during the winter.
How much does it cost for a boat to go through the Soo Locks?
Ticket prices are normally $33.00 per adult and $13.00 per child 5-16 years old. Children 4 and under always ride for free! We understand that plans may change, so Original Soo Locks Boat Tours offers refunds for unused tickets, no questions asked! Experience 'locking through' the Soo Locks.
How many shipping containers fall off boats?
The World Shipping Council found a tiny fraction, about . 0006 percent, of the total containers shipped on the world's oceans each year were lost.
Are the Soo Locks open year round?
The locks pass an average of 10,000 ships per year, despite being closed during the winter from January through March, when ice shuts down shipping on the Great Lakes. The winter closure period is used to inspect and maintain the locks.
At what temperature do locks freeze?
32 degrees FahrenheitAt 32 degrees Fahrenheit and below, water turns to ice. If there's any moisture inside your lock when this conversion occurs, it may cause the lock's internal components, such as the pins, to freeze up. As a result, you won't be able to open the lock until the ice has melted.
Do locks get stiff in the cold?
Cold Weather and Locks Cold temperatures cause the lubricant (which enables the metal parts to move smoothly against each other) to thicken or even freeze. In very cold weather the metal may contract or become brittle with the cold. Our winters are often wet/damp.
Do you have to pay to see the Soo Locks?
The Corps has operated the locks toll-free since that time. The Weitzel Lock opened in 1881 and control of the Soo Locks was handed over to the US Corps of Engineers. The original Poe Lock, named after Orlando Poe, was completed in 1896.
What month does snow stop falling Sault Ste Marie Michigan?
The snowy period of the year lasts for 6.1 months, from October 24 to April 29, with a sliding 31-day snowfall of at least 1.0 inches. The month with the most snow in Sault Ste. Marie is December, with an average snowfall of 8.2 inches. The snowless period of the year lasts for 5.9 months, from April 29 to October 24.
Can any boat go through Soo Locks?
Lawrence Seaway provide an unbroken water connection between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. However, boats larger than 740 feet long and 78 feet wide will not fit through the Welland Canal and can only travel between the four westernmost Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie).
How long does it take a boat to go thru Soo locks?
How long is the cruise? Our lock tour runs 90 minutes. However, at times there may be slight delays for locking due to freighter traffic. Our Lighthouse Cruise runs approximately 4 1/2 hours.
How often do cargo ships get attacked by pirates?
In 2021, the type of ship most attacked by pirates was a bulk carrier. That year, there were 47 attacks on bulk carriers recorded. Product tankers were targeted by pirates 20 times and container ships 30 times.
How do freighters get past Niagara Falls?
Because the falls have to be bypassed, large ships that ply Lakes Erie and Ontario do so by means of the Welland Canal. The first Welland Canal was built in 1829. Construction of today's fourth Welland Canal began in 1913 but did not officially open until August 1932.
How many times does Cargo Ship circle the map?
The Cargo Ship, also known as the "CCSC Lazarus," is a mobile Monument in Rust that spawns every 2 to 4 in-game days and circles the ocean portion of the world map.
9 Things You May Not Know About the Soo Locks | Michigan
There’s something for everyone in Sault Ste. Marie, from historic open houses, to spectacular vistas plus the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the great Soo Locks.Check out these nine interesting facts about the Soo Locks to inspire your visit from Sault Ste. Marie Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
Frequently Asked Soo Locks Questions - United States Army
Depending on the size of the boat, yes. The Soo Locks, Welland Canal and St. Lawrence Seaway provide an unbroken water connection between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.
What is the observation platform at MacArthur Lock?
Within the park an observation platform stands alongside the MacArthur Lock providing great views of boats in the locks. This platform features glassed in areas to protect visitors from inclement weather and a ramp allows access for wheelchairs and strollers.
When is the visitor center open?
Visitor Center Open 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., Masks Required for Unvaccinated Visitors. To keep the Visitor Center open, unvaccinated guest are required to wear masks inside and in any outdoor areas if physical distancing cannot be met to keep workers and visitors safe.
What is the phone number for Soo Locks?
The Soo Locks Boat Schedule Hotline is back in operation! Call 906-253-9290 for estimated vessel arrival times between... The locks are considered an “engineering marvel” with roots going back to the mid-1800s.
When was the Poe Lock built?
About 85% of vessels use the 1,200-foot Poe Lock, which was built in 1968. A new lock with a working price tag of more than $922 million is under construction. It will be roughly the size of the Poe Lock. It will be constructed at the site of the existing Davis and Sabin locks, which have been decommissioned.
What is the Soo Locks?
Affectionately called the “Linchpin of the Great Lakes” by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Soo Locks are an engineering marvel with roots dating back to the mid-1800s. Each year it’s estimated that 500,000 people visit these iconic locks that connect Lakes Superior and Huron. Thanks to the Soo Locks freighters over 1,000 feet in ...
How many ships pass through the Soo Locks?
Marys River all the way from Duluth, Minnesota outward into the Atlantic Ocean and beyond. Roughly 7,000 vessels pass through the Locks yearly hauling nearly 86 million tons of cargo.
How much iron ore moves through the Soo Locks?
90% Of The United State’s Iron Ore Moves Through The Soo Locks
How many feet is the Poe Lock?
Most ships utilize the Poe Lock (1,200 feet) which was rebuilt in 1968 to accommodate larger and more modern ships. The MacArthur Lock (800 feet), constructed in 1943, is still in operation as well. It is the lock closest to Sault Ste. Marie, which the observation deck in the Soo Locks Park overlooks, and was named after General Douglas MacArthur.
When were the Sabin and Davis locks built?
The Davis and Sabin Locks were built in 1914 and 1919 respectively. Currently, only Soo Area Office vessels use the Davis while the Sabin was officially decommissioned in 2010 after being inactive since 1989.
When was the Weitzel Lock opened?
The Weitzel Lock opened in 1881 and control of the Soo Locks was handed over to the US Corps of Engineers. The original Poe Lock, named after Orlando Poe, was completed in 1896.
Is Soo Locks Park open?
The Soo Locks Park is still open and is a great place to see freighters. Please stay up to date with Michigan’s COVID-19 protocols and practice social distancing.
