The Washington Canal, in

Sayreville, New Jersey Sayreville is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. Sayreville is within the heart of the Raritan Valley region, located on the south banks of the Raritan River, and also located on the Raritan Bay. As of the 2010 United Sta ...

, is a waterway connecting the South River with the

Raritan River Raritan River is a major river of New Jersey. Its Drainage basin, watershed drains much of the mountainous area of the central part of the state, emptying into the Raritan Bay on the Atlantic Ocean. History Geologists assert that the lower Rar ...

, bypassing several loops at the mouth of the former. It was chartered in 1823 to reduce the distance and hence travel time along the South River from

South River, New Jersey South River is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 16,008,Hurricane Sandy Hurricane Sandy (unofficially referred to as ''Superstorm Sandy'') was an extremely destructive and strong Atlantic hurricane, as well as the largest Atlantic hurricane on record as measured by diameter, with tropical-storm-force winds spann ...

, the area around the Washington Canal suffered surges up to 14 feet above flood stage. Nearly all homes became uninhabitable, and more than 30 lost their foundations.

References

Canals in New Jersey Geography of Middlesex County, New Jersey Canals opened in 1825 Sayreville, New Jersey {{NewJersey-transport-stub