How uplifting...

You gotta admit, that's pretty ingenious!

We have a similar thing where i'm from its called the Falkirk wheel http://www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk/

This is truly a marvelous piece of engineering.
Gravity + water only. amazing

Sorry for re-posting here is a short video for anyone interested in the Falkirk wheel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n61KUGDWz2A

#3

it does not change, for every kilogram a boat weights, 1 liter water is pushed away, the lift always carries the same weight.

They have something like this near where I live.
At a place called Falkirk but that is more of a tourist attraction.
http://www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk/

#(removed comment) If you were do do as you suggest then the lift would be unable to raise your lead-filled boat. That is beyond the capacity of the lift.

Waterproof technology!

lol #3 and #5 ya the only difference the english(scottish) one has style and its massive

#10 The Scottish lift has less than half the lifting capacity of the Canadian lift. I would say that is a pretty BIG difference.

#(removed comment) Archimedes principle, the boats displace water equal to its weight...... e.g place a tub of water on a weight machine and read its weight, now throw a tennis ball into it, then another and a few more (as long as they are floating on the water surface) and read the weight .... it'll be the same throughout

Went through it with a group of canoeists... They aren't supposed to allow canoe's but we asked nicely!

Great engineering

that's an amzing piece of engineering. I've been through old fashioned lockes before and they take forever!! this is so much faster and so cool!!

#12 It sure is the Archimedes Principle at work here in that a floating object will displace it's weight in water, but your example is incorrect, the scale will add the weight of every tennis ball you throw in based on the fact that your tub is a closed container and the water has nowhere to go. The lift lock however has a door that closes once the boat is in, so the displaced water is pushed outside the lift, thus making the lift weight the same every time. So your example only works if the bath tub is filled up to the brim and every drop of water that is displaced overflows, but who wants to clean up that mess in the bathroom after the experiment?

#12 & #16 The difference between the English and German education systems is astonishing!
#16 Explained and demonstrated that fact perfectly and correctly.

What is truly amazing is when you stop to think that it was built 100 years ago and is still in constant operation.

this is the best thing I have seen in weeks.
(well, other than porn of course)

in 1904 - thats amazing!

#20 - you beat me, I was thinking the same when narrator mentioned 1904

That video has true snotr quality, very interesting!