Erie Canal Current Route of the Erie Canal Specifications Length 363 miles (584 km) Locks 36 Maximum height above sea level 571 ft (174 m) Status open Navigation authority New York State Canal Corporation History Original owner New York State Principal engineer Benjamin Wright Other engineer (s) Canvass White, Amos Eaton Construction began July 4, 1817 (at Rome, New York) Date of first use May 17, 1821 Date completed October 26, 1825 Date restored September 3, 1999 Geography Start point Hudson River near Albany, New York (42 ° 47 ′ 00 '' N 73 ° 40 ′ 36 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 42.7834 ° N 73.6767 ° W ﻿ / 42.7834; - 73.6767) End point Niagara River near Buffalo, New York (43 ° 01 ′ 25 '' N 78 ° 53 ′ 24 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 43.0237 ° N 78.8901 ° W ﻿ / 43.0237; - 78.8901) Branch (es) Oswego Canal, Cayuga -- Seneca Canal Branch of New York State Canal System Connects to Champlain Canal, Welland Canal
what two bodies of water does the erie canal link together
Hudson River Niagara River