The St. Lawrence is part of a complex
system, which includes the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence
Seaway and a dredged channel between Quebec and Montreal.
The main purpose of the Seaway is to provide a maritime
link between Montreal and the Great Lakes by using a
series of locks and canals. The best known is the Welland
Canal linking Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, a 99 meters
climb over the Niagara escarpment. The St. Lawrence
itself can be subdivided between the estuary and the
river.
| Length |
3,060 km |
| St.
Lawrence sub-basin |
574,000 sq. km |
| Great
Lakes sub-basin |
770,200 sq. km |
| Total
basin |
1,344,200 sq. km |
| Mean
flow |
10 cubic m./s |
| Population |
approx. 5 millions over a 10 km-wide
strip along the St. Lawrence. If we consider the
St. Lawrence / Great Lakes region, a total of 90
million people is reached. |
| Economic
facts |
40% of American
manufacturing (70% of steel production) and 66%
of Canada's industrial production in the region. |
|
