Canals use locks to deal with changes in elevation (water runs downhill). They are essentially tanks with doors on each end. A hydraulic system is used to fill and lower the level of the water in the lock to allow ships to move from one elevation to another.
The present New York State Barge Canal has two locks in the Rochester area, Locks 32 and 33 (![[WWW]](http://rocwiki.org/wiki/eggheadbeta/img/sycamore-www.png){kind=small}
map). Here is a view of Lock 32 (courtesy DRosenbach and Wikipedia):
These are modern locks and were not part of the original Erie Canal. However, there are two original locks that can still be seen today. The first one is adjacent to 490 near Winton Road in what was once the Widewaters area. This was Lock 66, by the original numbering system.
The other lock is slightly less visible, hidden on a trail running from French Road in Pittsford to behind Pittsford Plaza. This is Lock 62. It is part of a town park that few seem to know about. More of this lock is intact than Lock 66. You can get a much better idea of the size and construction (and you don't have to park on the side of a busy highway).
There is still a section original Erie Canal existing here, running from where the new Southern route begins on the present canal past Lock 66 (ends somewhere near the Spring House). It's overgrown with weeds and other vegetation, but it's still there.
