Delaware & Raritan Canal Lock No. 11 - South Bound Brook, NJ
Posted by: Metro2
N 40° 33.535 W 074° 31.866
18T E 539696 N 4489900
Quick Description: This canal was built in the 1830s and served to connect the Delaware River to the Raritan River...especially to transport coal from Pennsylvania to Philadelphia and New York City.
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 9/28/2011 3:52:24 PM
Waymark Code: WMCPBV
This lock of the Delaware & Raritan Canal is in a small park, called "Canal Park" in South Bound Brook, NJ. However, in 1974, the State of New Jersey created a trail and State Park of the 58 mile canal. The Canal was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Wikipedia (visit link
) informs us:
"Locks were used to overcome elevation differences along the D&R canal. Many of the locks are still present along the canal route; however, the lock gates have been replaced on the upstream side with small dams and water outfalls. The downstream gates have been removed, so the water in the locks is level with the water on the downstream side. Some of the locks have been buried or removed due to construction projects in the vicinity of the canal.
A number of spillways, which drained excess water from the canal into nearby waterways during periods of heavy flow, are located along the canal route. Spillways are evident as a dip in the tow path along the canal. Some have paving stones spaced closely enough for mules to walk, but are impassable for bicycles. With the flow stopped, species typical of stagnant water live in them."