The North Branch Division of the Pennsylvania Canal was a historic waterway that ran 169mi along the North Branch Susquehanna River between southern New York and north-central Pennsylvania in the United States. At its southern end, the canal connected with the West Branch Canal and the Susquehanna Division Canal at Northumberland, while on the north it connected with the Junction Canal and the New York canal system. Built between 1828 and 1856, the North Branch Canal was part of a large transportation network that included Pennsylvania's Main Line of Public Works.HistoryThe first segment of 55mi was begun in 1828 and completed in 1831 to Nanticoke Falls. In 1834, a project called the Wyoming Extension increased the canal's length by 17mi past Wilkes-Barre to Pittston. A final extension of 97mi from Pittston to the New York state line was started in 1836 and finished in 1856.The complete canal had a total of 43 locks that overcame 334ft of elevation between its end points. The southern end was 420ft above sea level, and the northern end was at 754ft.The privately built Junction Canal of 18mi linked the North Branch Canal to Elmira. There the Junction Canal connected with the Chemung Canal, which led north to Seneca Lake and the Erie Canal. Through these connections, boats using the Pennsylvania Canal system were able to travel as far as Buffalo and Lake Champlain.
