Rideau Canal

Rideau Canal
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The Rideau Canal is the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America. The 19th century canal runs for 202 km from Ottawa, Canada’s capital, to Kingston on Lake Ontario. The canal's initial purpose was military, later it opened up the area for settlement and commerce. The canal was completed in 1832.

The 202 kilometres (125 miles) of the Rideau Canal incorporate sections of the Rideau and Cataraqui rivers, as well as several lakes, including the Lower, Upper and Big Rideau lakes. About 19 kilometres (12 miles) of the route is man-made.

Year Decision Comments
2007 Inscribed Reasons for inscription

Reviews

Rob Wilson (UK):
What a wonderful surprise the canal and fortifications was! I spent a couple of happy hours exploring Fort Henry and enjoying the views over the canal. The staff at the fort also do a super job with the 'interpretive history' experience.
A worthy WHS!
Date posted: August 2008
MR. Clock (Canada):
the forts at kingston are great. they have demonstrations of how to fire muskets, and 19th century british army drills. kingston has 4 martello towers, more then any other city in the world. a martello tower is a small squat defensive tower. all the forts at kingston are part of the world heritage site.
the rideau canal is also great, the locks that drop it into the ottawa river (located in ottawa) are very interesting. the canal is still used today. in winter, many people in ottowa skate to work/school on the canal.
Date posted: April 2008
():
Hooray! The Rideau Canal was my number one choice as a world heritage site proposal and now members of the World Heritage Convention have granted my wish. The canal is frozen in winter, making it the largest ice skating area in the world. In warmer weather, one can walk across the canal on the locks. Ottawa is a beautiful city with the Rideau Canal being only one of many things to see and do.
 


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