C&O Canal by the Potomac in Great Falls

Until the construction of the C&O Canal (Chesapeake and Ohio), boat transportation was made impossible by the waterfalls on the Potomac - the Great Falls and The Little Falls.  The 184 mile canal, a system with locks that ran parallel to the river, provided a way to move goods down the river by boat, and operated from 1828 to 1924.  In 1971 the canal was designated a National Historical Park; today it's a popular spot for bikers and joggers along its towpath - and photographers such as myself, who prefers to enjoy the scenery at a much slower pace.