Locks and Bridges with Theo

Here is a video my mom and I made while going through the first lock of the Intracoastal Waterway. This lock is called Great Bridge Lock. It is just south of Norfolk. We did some research after we made this video and we figured out that we were wrong and this locks purpose is not to raise or lower boats like most locks. The main purpose is actually to keep the salt water of the Chesapeake from running into the fresh water of North Carolinas Currituck Sound. If that happens it destroys ecosystems, which we don’t want! Right after going through the lock we went under the Great Bridge Bridge. It’s a really funny name right?! Well I sure think it is. This bridge was really cool and I was looking forward to seeing this type of bridge. The bridges we had seen before this rotate or open on one end. But this one opens on both sides! It was really cool to be able to see one of these bridges on our trip. Here is the video we made (before we knew this locks real purpose).

See ya later alligator!!!

*we are very lucky that Theo asks a million questions every day and really thinks deeply. We would never have know the real reason for this lock if it weren’t for Theo asking “why wouldn’t they have just dredged deeper so that we wouldn’t need a lock? It doesn’t make sense to me. Can you google it?” You gotta love Theo’s insatiable quest for knowledge!