Watch How Eels Climb Ladders

To give American eels a gateway to fresh water, eel ladders have been built at both ends of the dam at the Roanoke Rapids hydroelectric power station.

Eels are snakelike fish that spawn in the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean. They then swim up rivers and streams to mature in fresh water.

Up and down the East Coast, their migration is often blocked by dams.

To help the eels continue on their fresh-water journey, the 100-foot, steel and aluminum ladders at the Roanoke Rapids power station was put into operation this spring.

The ladders have been a huge success. Over one weekend in April, about 75,000 eels made the journey up the ladders.

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