Use the information in the box below to answer the question. * The Erie Canal was completed in 1825

* It links the Hudson River with Lake Erie

* It included 83 locks with a rise of 568 feet and 18 aqueducts designed to carry the canal over ravines and rivers

* Between 1836 and 1862, it was enlarged to support boats 70 feet wide and 7 feet deep.

* It was enlarged again between 1903 and 1918 to accommodate large barges carrying very heavy loads

Based on this information, what was the purpose of the Erie Canal?

A. to accommodate the recreational needs of easterners

B. to facilitate the growth of the United States

C. to impede trade throughout the region

D. to enhance the environment along Lake Erie