Historic Site

Near the South Nation River headwaters lies the Galop Canal, the historic predecessor to the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Opened in 1846, the Galop Canal ran 12 kilometres from Iroquois to Cardinal. It allowed ships to bypass rapids around Point Iroquois, Cardinal and Galop Island. The use of the Galop Canal shifted in the 1950s when construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway began. The nature of life along the St. Lawrence banks began to change, and newer, larger locks were built to ship larger amounts of cargo from the Great Lakes. New hydroelectric power stations were constructed, ultimately leading to the flooding of 10 villages along the river and the relocation of others. The canal is also the final resting place of the Conestoga, a shipwreck visible from the shoreline! Bring a picnic and enjoy the scenery this historic site has to offer.

Photo: Google Street View