The Rideau Canal is a 202 kilometer (125 mile) stretch of scenic waterway. It is a Canadian National Historic Site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The entire canal connects a series of lakes and rivers, and stretches from Kingston. Ontario (on Lake Ontario), to the nation’s capitol, Ottawa.
The Rideau Canal is the oldest continuously operated canal in North America and its locks are operated today much as they were in 1832. Each lock is unique. Many locks offer the free advice of helpful lock keepers, washrooms, overnight mooring and picnic facilities. In summer the canal is popular with boaters and in winter with ice skaters.
We visited the portion of the Canal that stretches through Ottawa. There are some large flat sections, but as the Canal drops to the Ottawa River, it does so in a series of rather dramatic steps, each with its own lock.
I liked the photo below of this stretch of the Canal snapped at dusk.
One of my bucketlist items is to explore the canal along its length someday.
I was lucky enough to “borrow” a beautiful house on Rideau Lakes and explore Ottawa. Beautiful – but underpopulated – part of the world.
Perfect for me,