建国前,里运河东堤上曾建有五座著名的归海坝。这五座坝分别是高邮的南关坝、新坝、中坝、车逻坝和江都的昭关坝,历史上统称为“归海五坝”。这五座归海坝对里下河人民的生活曾产生极大影响,深为世人瞩目。 在古代,里运河以西乃是一片低洼湖区,计有36座小湖(陂)。宋高邮邑人秦少游诗云:“高邮西北多巨湖, Before the founding of the PRC, there were five well-known sea bays built on the eastern bank of the Grand Canal. These five dams are respectively Gaogou’s Nanjuanba, Xinba, Zhongba and Cheluoguang and Zhaoguanba of Jiangdu, which have been historically referred to as “the five dams of the sea”. The five to the sea dam on Lixiahe people’s life had a tremendous impact, deep for the world attention. In ancient times, west of the Grand Canal was a low-lying lake area with 36 small lakes (陂). Song Gaoyou Yi people Qin Shaoyun poetry cloud: "Gaoyou north lake,