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Gordon W | all galleries >> Photos by Location >> Canada Galleries >> Ontario >> Kawartha Lakes Gallery 2005 > Kirkfield Lift Lock
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22-JUN-2005

Kirkfield Lift Lock

Lock 36 on the Trent-Severn Waterway

Situated at the highest point along the Trent-Severn Waterway at 840 ft (256 m) above sea level,
this dual lift is the second tallest hydraulic boat lift in the world, raising and lowering boats
49 ft (15 m). Conventional locks typically provide only a 7 ft (2 m) change in elevation.

This design of hydraulic lift needs no external power, functioning by gravity alone using a
counterweight system. The concept can be likened to a giant scale comprised of two chambers.
An extra few inches of water added to the upper chamber is enough to tip the balance and when
the crossover valves are opened, the upper chamber begins to descend which forces the lower
chamber to rise. The weight of the boats in the chambers is irrelevant because each boat
displaced its own weight in water before the gates of the chambers were closed.

Photographed near Kirkfield, Ontario Canada.

Canon EOS 20D , with 17-85mm IS 4-5.6 kit lens
1/200s f/9.0 at 17.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto