New York's Erie Canal is a man-made waterway in the state of New York that connects the Hudson River to Lake Erie. It was originally constructed between 1817 and 1825, and was the first transportation system of its kind in the United States. The canal was instrumental in the development of the state of New York, as it allowed for the transportation of goods and people between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. The canal is still in use today, although it has been significantly modernized since its original construction.