Canaveral Barge Canal
The Canaveral Barge Canal is an active canal in Brevard County, Florida, cutting east-west across northern Merritt Island just south of Cape Canaveral. It connects the Atlantic Ocean and Port Canaveral with the Indian River and wider Indian River Lagoon, part of the Intracoastal Waterway. The canal consists of two segments separated by the Banana River.[2]
The canal was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1965 to allow the transport of crude oil by barge to two power plants south of Titusville, Florida. The design was expanded during the planning stage to enable the transport of Saturn rocket stages to NASA's Kennedy Space Center for the Apollo program.[1]
Canaveral Lock, the canal's only lock and the largest navigation lock in Florida, is located on the eastern segment. It has a rise of 3–4 feet (0.91–1.22 m) and protects Canaveral Harbor from tidal currents, storm surge, and salt water. The lock is free of charge and takes 20 to 30 minutes for watercraft to traverse.[1]
Vessels with drafts up to 12 feet (3.7 m) may use the canal,[1] which was intended for barges but not ships (the adjacent Port Canaveral allows drafts up to 39.5 feet (12.0 m)[3]). The canal is popular with recreational boaters, providing access to Sykes Creek and various marinas. The next-closest passages between the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean are Ponce de Leon Inlet, 50 miles (80 km) to the north, and Sebastian Inlet, 40 miles (64 km) to the south.[2]
List of crossings
Bridge | Type | Carries | Location | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|
Christa McAuliffe Bridge | Bascule drawbridge | ![]() | Merritt Island | 28°24′26″N 80°42′24″W / 28.40722°N 80.70667°W / 28.40722; -80.70667 |
Barge Canal Bridge | ![]() | 28°24′32″N 80°37′55″W / 28.40889°N 80.63194°W / 28.40889; -80.63194 |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Port_Canaveral_Barge_Canal_Bridge_with_bascule_spans_raised_-_from_southwest.jpg/220px-Port_Canaveral_Barge_Canal_Bridge_with_bascule_spans_raised_-_from_southwest.jpg)
References
- ^ a b c d e "Jacksonville District – Canaveral Lock". www.saj.usace.army.mil. US Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Canaveral Barge Canal Harbor in Merritt Island, FL, United States". marinas.com. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ "Port of Port Canaveral, U.S.A." www.findaport.com. Shipping Guides Ltd. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
External links
- Map: 28°24′33″N 80°41′37″W / 28.40917°N 80.69361°W / 28.40917; -80.69361
- v
- t
- e
- Alapaha
- Apalachicola
- Aucilla
- Blackwater
- Caloosahatchee
- Chattahoochee
- Chipola
- Choctawhatchee
- Econlockhatchee
- Escambia
- Hillsborough
- Indian River
- Kissimmee
- Myakka
- Ochlockonee
- Ocklawaha
- Pea
- Peace
- Perdido
- Santa Fe
- St. Johns
- St. Marys
- Suwannee
- Withlacoochee (North)
- Withlacoochee (South)
- Yellow
- Apopka
- Crescent
- Blue Cypress
- East Tohopekaliga
- George
- Harney
- Harris
- Iamonia
- Istokpoga
- Jackson
- Jesup
- Kissimmee
- Manatee
- Miccosukee
- Monroe
- Okeechobee
- Poinsett
- Rodman
- Rousseau
- Seminole
- Talquin
- Tohopekaliga
- Tsala Apopka
- Ward
- Washington
- Weir
- Alafia
- Alapahoochee
- Anclote
- Banana River
- Braden
- Carrabelle
- Chassahowitzka
- Crooked
- Crystal
- Dead
- East
- East Bay
- Eau Gallie
- Econfina
- Estero
- Homosassa
- Hontoon Dead
- Ichetucknee
- Imperial
- Little (Biscayne Bay)
- Little (Ochlockonee)
- Little Econlockhatchee
- Little Manatee
- Little Wekiva
- Loxahatchee
- Manatee
- Matanzas
- Miami
- Mosquito Lagoon
- New (Broward)
- New (Carabelle)
- New (Santa Fe)
- Oleta
- Orange
- Pithlachascotee
- Rainbow
- Ribault
- Shark
- Silver
- Sopchoppy
- St. Lucie
- St. Marks
- St. Sebastian
- Steinhatchee
- Tomoka
- Trout
- Waccasassa
- Wacissa
- Wakulla
- Weeki Wachee
- Wekiva
streams
- Billy's
- Black
- Blackwater (Hillsborough)
- Blackwater (Lake)
- Crane
- Cross
- Econfina
- Fisheating
- Myakkahatchee
- Orange
- Pottsburg
- Shingle
- Snapper
- Turkey
This article about a location in Brevard County, Florida is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- v
- t
- e