How do locks work in channels?
A channel needs locks when the bodies of water that the channel connects are at different elevations. If there were no locks, the channel would be a rapidly flowing river which would be hazardous to boats and perhaps even to the two bodies of water that the channel connects.FunctionA channel with locks allows a boat to move between two bodies of water that are at different elevations. The ship is brought into a lock structure, which contains the ship within a section of the channel. Watertight doors are closed behind the ship, and then water is either pumped into the lock or pumped out of the lock to adjust the water level to that of the section of channel beyond the front watertight door, ahead of the ship. Then, the front lock is opened, and the ship proceeds to the next lock until the water level at the destination water body is matched.TypesIf the difference in water level is slight, there might be only one lock necessary. If the difference is water levels is great, there may be se
