Between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario lies the Welland Canal. With eight locks that bypass the 326-foot Niagara Escarpment across a distance of 24 nautical miles, the canal has an elevation change of 241 feet, greater than that of the Panama Canal.

This article gives a nice overview of the canal, with information on the lock procedures and challenges.

A free publication from The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation has all the details.