The term 'New York State Canal' is composed of two words, the first being 'Erie, ' which is a four-letter word. Erie is a lake located on the international border between the United States and Canada. It is the fourth-largest lake in North America and the ninth-largest lake in the world. The lake is connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Niagara River and the Welland Canal. It is also part of the New York State Canal System, which is a network of canals that connect the Hudson River to Lake Erie.