The Welland Canal connects:

Question

Accepted Answer

The Welland Canal connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. This is its primary and defining purpose. The canal allows ships to traverse the Niagara Escarpment and bypass Niagara Falls, which would otherwise prevent navigation between these two Great Lakes. Without the Welland Canal, shipping between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario would be impossible.

Here's why the other options are incorrect:

*   **Option 2: Lake Superior and Lake Huron:** These lakes are connected by the St. Marys River and the Soo Locks, not the Welland Canal. The Soo Locks are a separate system designed to overcome the difference in elevation between Lake Superior and Lake Huron.

*   **Option 3: Lake Michigan and Lake Superior:** These lakes are also connected by the St. Marys River and the Soo Locks. Lake Michigan is at the same elevation as Lake Huron, so there is no need for a canal to overcome a significant elevation difference between them.

*   **Option 4: Lake Huron and Lake Michigan:** These two lakes are at the same elevation and are connected by the Straits of Mackinac. There is no need for a canal to connect them.