Geography has been kind to the United States of America and Canada, as several large interconnected natural lakes are ideal for use by ships to transport large cargoes from their source to factories and other processing centres, making the movement of bulk goods easy and convenient. Farsighted people realised the possibilities of connecting the lakes to the Atlantic, via the Saint Lawrence River, by the building of locks. Consequently, the two countries have long taken advantage of this natural route for both domestic and international shipping.
The sprawling Great Lakes have been important to North America’s economies since the 19th century, allowing ships to transport raw materials more efficiently than by rail or road. The first large freighter was the steamer , which was launched on 16 February 1882. With a length of 302ft 6in (92.2m), this iron-hulled and steampowered cargo ship was a step forward, and was the largest of her type
