Rideau Canal (Sights & Attractions in Ottawa)

Member Name: ray1952

Product:	Sights & Attractions in Ottawa
Date:	03/07/01 (211 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free entry, Pleasant walks, Tranquil setting

Disadvantages: No shop

This is a place I visited in Sept 2000. The Rideau Canal is a chain of beautiful lakes, rivers and canal cuttings. One of Canada's historic canals, the Rideau is maintained and run by Parks Canada to keep and present the canal's natural and historic features, as well as to provide a navigable waterway.
The setting of the canal is as follows:
From Lake Ontario at Kingston, the Rideau begins its ascent of the Cataraqui River system. It passes through the Cataraqui Marsh, an extensive wetland in the St. Lawrence Lowlands. At Kingston Mills, the most southerly lock boats climb the series of locks past towering granite cliffs. From lake to lake, the canal rises to its highest point, near Newboro in Upper Rideau Lake.

At the top the scenery changes. It passes through farmlands of the Smiths Falls limestone plain and wanders through shallow marshes full of birds and wildlife.

As it is free to enter the area, it is an ideal setting for a gentle stroll along the banks of the canal. You can watch boats navigate the 5 locks at the Ottawa end which is an experience in itself. The only downside is that no souvenir shop is near the 5 locks.

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