Feb 12 2015
Frozen
The lockcrew observing the tugboat Fredrick, which is surrounded by ice during the winter of 2014, in which 92 percent of the Great Lakes froze over.
Nov 20 2013
Floating plant in the Poe Lock
The tug Whitefish Bay moves the cranebarge Harvey into position in the Poe Lock to support divers who will be working on the lock September 12, 2013.
Signals
a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers linehandler signals to deck crew as the Burns Harbor glides into position in the Poe Lock June 26, 2013. The boat was headed to Burns Harbor, Indiana with 66,740 net tons of taconite.
Tall Ship at the Soo Locks
The US Brig Niagara was in the Poe Lock July 22, 2013 on its way to Duluth where it will be one of 10 vessels participating in "Tall Ships Duluth 2013: The Greatest Spectacle on Lake Superior."
Job shadowing
Construction engineer Joanne Gray talks with two high school students at the construction site for a new air compressor building between the Poe and Davis Locks. The students spent the day 'job shadowing' at the locks, touring the facility and talking with various engineers about their work at the Soo Locks and careers in engineering.
Trimming intake pipe
A welder uses a cutting torch to trim an intake pipe for the hydro plant.
Rigging
Two workers secure the rigging on an intake pipe that will be lowered into the water and installed by divers.
Maintenance at Indiana Harbor
The Manitowoc crane barge removes part of the catwalk structure from the Indiana Harbor pier in East Chicago, Ind.
September morning
With only five days until the official start of Autumn, the 1,000-foot M.V. Water J. McCarthy (front) and the M.V. Tim S. Dool provide a visual taste of the first of many cool, crisp autumn mornings at the Soo Locks.
Late night viewing
Visitors line up at the top of a viewing platform at the Soo Locks to get a view of the Paul R. Tregurtha as it enters the Poe Lock just after midnight March 25, 2013. The locks opened at 12:01 a.m. to kick off the beginning of the 2013 Great Lakes shipping season.
Detroit District Relay Team
District employees pose with their medals after participating in the 35th Annual Detroit Free Press/Talmer Bank Marathon. The team finished 94th out of 535 entrants.
Boating and Water Safety
A summer's day in Grand Haven on the beach and in the water.
Ultimate Frisbee
Teams compete in a game of Ultimate Frisbee during this year's Beach Survival Challenge at Grand Haven State Park. The Beach Survival Challenge stems from a tragedy that occurred in 2002. A 17-year-old boy drowned after getting caught in a rip current in Lake Michigan, inspiring his mother to develop a fun event designed to raise awareness about rip currents and other water dangers such as pier jumping, so that swimmers may safely enjoy the beauty of Lake Michigan.
Tall Ship passing through the Soo Locks
The Sorlandet, a tall ship from Norway, passes through the Poe Lock at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., on its way to Duluth for the Tall Ships Festival. The Sorlandet is the oldest fully-rigged sailing vessel in the world.
Ship watching in Duluth
Crowds line up along Canal Park in Duluth, Minn. as the Mesabi Miner heads out of the shipping canal July 2, 2013.
Inland Route Cheboygan
The Inland Route is a series of interconnected lakes and streams stretching across the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and extending from Conway near Lake Michigan to Cheboygan on Lake Huron. Crooked and Indian Rivers are connecting channels in the waterway.
Saltie arrives in Duluth
Han Xin arrives in Duluth, Minnesota.
Lower Lock Gates
Workers on the floor of the nearly empty lock prepare to open the final valves to finish dewatering the lock. Behind them are the lower lock gates.
East Approach
A birdseye view of the Soo Locks facility from the lower approach.
Ship arriving in Duluth
James R. Barker arriving Duluth, Minnesota
The Livingstone Channel
The bottom of the dewatered Livingstone Channel features formidable bedrock and limestone formations in this 1933 photo.
Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center
Visitors can get an up-close look at a Corps of Engineers tugboat while visiting the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center at Canal Park in Duluth, Minn.
Cleaning the locks
A diver uses a ladder to climb into the 37-degree water to reach the MacArthur Lock floor where he will inspect the areas around the gates and valves and assist with debris removal. This is done annually as a part of the Soo Locks winter maintenance.
How do the locks work?
Kids and adults alike take a look at a Soo Locks replica that explains the drop in water levels and how ships pass from one lake to another while at the 2012 Detroit Boat Show. Be sure to check it out at this year's show Feb. 16-24 at Cobo Center.
Exhibits at the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center
Visitors to the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center view artifacts in a diving and recovery display in Duluth, Minn.
Winter maintenance on the MacArthur Lock
Two workers use a special wrench to open a valve that will allow water to flow from the debris pit on the other side of the lock gate into the lower end of the lock where it can be pumped out. This is part of the annual maintenance done at the Soo Locks each winter.