0 a place or route where a boat must be carried, especially over land between two areas of water: --
1 to carry a boat, either over land between two areas of water or through the water: --
Prior to the development of canals, portages between the rivers were important trade routes.
The route was relatively free of obstacles to navigation, with only a few portages.
They towed log booms across lakes and then portaged themselves using a winch to the next body of water.
The basic purpose of most canals is to avoid portages.
The importance of free passage through portages found them included in laws and treaties.
Lobsticks would mark trails or portages, sources of food, or hunting grounds.
Because the rapids were not generally navigable, all traffic had to be routed around the rapids on portages, first paths and roads, then on railways.
On the portages between the lakes, old vehicles were stationed.
