Overview:

The Rideau Canal is a 202 km (125 mi) long waterway that links Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, Ontario to Kingston, Ontario on Lake Ontario. Along with the Rideau River, it forms a navigable waterway joining Lake Ontario with the Ottawa River. It was built to provide a safe route to Ottawa through the St. Lawrence and the wilds of Upper Canada following the War of 1812. It remains an important part of the Canadian heritage, providing recreational opportunities and beautiful scenery along its route. It is also one of the busiest recreational canal systems in the world. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Canada
Prominent Features:

The Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Ontario and Québec, Canada. The 202-kilometer (125-mile) historic waterway connects Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, Ontario, with Kingston, Ontario, on Lake Ontario. Built in the early 19th century as a precautionary military measure in the wake of the War of 1812, the canal is today a recreational tourist attraction offering boaters, hikers, and cyclists a unique set of experiences. Its most prominent features include a vast system of locks and man-made canals, stone-arched bridges, and arresting 19th-century fortifications. This national monument of Canada portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

The Rideau Canal is a historic canal connecting the Ottawa River and Lake Ontario, running through the provinces of Ontario and Quebec in Canada. It is recognized as a part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Rideau-Canal-Ottawa River Corridor. Construction of the Rideau Canal began in 1826, as part of a concerted effort by Lieutenant-Colonel John By of the Royal Engineers, under the direction of Major-General George Ramsay, the Governor-in-Chief of British North America. In the wake of the War of 1812, the British Government saw the need for a reliable, navigable waterway connecting the Colony of Upper Canada with the Atlantic Ocean. The canal project began with the digging of canals through the Ottawa River Valley, and the Rideau River Valley. In July of 1832, the Rideau Canal opened to ships, travelling between Kingston, Ontario and Bytown (now Ottawa), a distance of 202 km. In death of Colonel By, in 1836, the responsibility for the canal passed to John MacTaggart, the portage superintendent of the Rideau Canal. MacTaggart was responsible for overseeing the completion and maintenance of the canal, and undertook many other projects, such as the installation of locks and dams along the canal. The Canal was finally completed in 1832. Today, the Rideau Canal remains an integral part of the Canadian landscape, and a popular tourist destination. The Rideau Canal is a National Historic site of Canada, and a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for its grandeur, importance, and degree of preservation. You must visit one of these historical places in Canada on your Canada tour

Interesting facts:

1. The Rideau Canal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, recognizing it as an important part of Canada’s engineering heritage. 2. The rideau Canal is the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America. It was originally built between 1826 and 1832 and remains in use today. 3. The overall length of the canal is 202 km (126 miles) and passes through 46 structures such as locks and dams. 4. It is the only canal to span two provinces, Ontario and Quebec. 5. The name “Rideau” is a French word meaning “curtain” or “veil” and was given by the canal’s original surveyor, who described the river’s many cascades and rapids as appearing similar to a curtain. 6. The canal is frozen over in the winter, allowing for activities such as the celebrated Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s longest naturally frozen skating rink which runs 7.8 km (4.8 miles) in length. 7. The Rideau Canal is the most popular recreational boating destination in Canada and approximately 400,000 visitors each summer enjoy its lake systems, wetlands, and river forests. 8. The Rideau Canal is home to over 35 species of fish, making it a popular destination for fishing. Visit one of the famous monuments of Canada with your friends and family.