St. Lawrence River: Historic Fur Trade Route and Hydroelectric Power Source

The St. Lawrence River served two pivotal roles in North American development:

1. Fur Trade Highway (17th–19th centuries): Voyageurs and traders used it to move pelts from the interior to Montreal and Quebec for export to Europe.
2. Hydroelectric Power (20th century–present): Major dams (e.g., Moses-Saunders, Beauharnois) generate gigawatts of clean electricity for Quebec, Ontario, and New York.

Today, it remains a vital commercial waterway (Seaway) and energy corridor.