Project Watershed Central New York

Canals are man-made waterways, usually connecting existing lakes, rivers, or oceans. They are used for transportation, often by barges or narrowboats on smaller canals, and by ships on ship canals that connect to the ocean. Inland canals preceded the development of railroads during the Industrial Revolution, and some canals were later drained and used as railroad right-of-way.

Irrigation canals are man-made waterways for the delivery of water and preceded the use of transportation canals.