Artificial waterway built for navigation, crop irrigation, water supply, and drainage. Canals are usually connected with natural bodies of water or other canals (taken from Encyclopaedia Britannica 2002). In the Venice lagoon this term refers to the channel that can be employed not only for its natural function to link and to allow the ebb and flow of the water from the sea to the internal lagoon, but also for navigation. Their natural course is winding, and this feature distinguishes them from artificial channels, built up to improve lagoon navigation. Artificial canals worth mentioning are: Vittorio Emanuele III canal, that links through Giudecca’s Canal Lido’s inlet to the industrial harbour; the oil tanker canal, that links Malamocco’s inlet to S. Leonardo’s harbour and is employed by the oil tankers heading to Marghera harbour; Fusina’s Canale Nuovo; S. Secondo’s Canal that links through the water Venice to Mestre (S. Giuliano); Campalto’s Canal. (taken from De Agostini - Sapere.it).
Source: Taken from Encyclopaedia Britannica 2002