Credit: City of Ottawa
Rideau Canal
613-239-5234 | Website
A skateway in the winter and a route for pleasure-craft in the summer, the canal is a huge city landmark and indeed one of its loveliest attractions.
Category:
Recreation Location
Profile Last Updated: July 27, 2009
History
The Rideau Canal was built between 1826 and 1832 to link to Ottawa and Kingston. For reasons of deference, a route for water travel that did not require the use of the St. Lawrence was needed.
A World Heritage Site
The year 2007 marked the 175th anniversary of the construction of the Rideau Canal. In recognition, UNESCO declared the canal a world heritage site the same year. In addition to this world heritage distinction, the Rideau Canal holds the record for the world’s largest skating rink. In 2005, officials at Guinness World Records recognized the NCC’s 7.8-kilometre Rideau Canal Skateway for its total maintained ice surface of 165,621 m2, equivalent to 90 Olympic hockey rinks.
Winter Pleasures
In the winter, the Ottawa portion of the Rideau Canal is made into a gigantic skating rink which is the longest in the world. Since 1971, the National Capital Commission has maintained the canal's ice surface in winter. The 7.8-kilometre stretch of ice that winds through downtown Ottawa is known in winter as the Rideau Canal Skateway and receives an average of one million visits per season.
Summer Pleasures
In the summertime, the Rideau Canal turns into a beautiful throughway for boats and pleasure crafts. Peddle-boats, canoes, houseboats, and tour boats all share the canal. It is also the site of the very popular Tulip Flotilla during the Canadian Tulip Festival. Houseboats along the canal are among the best places to view Canada Day fireworks. The sidewalks alongside the canal are used by walkers, runners, cyclists, and roller-bladers. Ottawa lives and breathes its canal, all year round.
The Rideau Canal was built between 1826 and 1832 to link to Ottawa and Kingston. For reasons of deference, a route for water travel that did not require the use of the St. Lawrence was needed.
A World Heritage Site
The year 2007 marked the 175th anniversary of the construction of the Rideau Canal. In recognition, UNESCO declared the canal a world heritage site the same year. In addition to this world heritage distinction, the Rideau Canal holds the record for the world’s largest skating rink. In 2005, officials at Guinness World Records recognized the NCC’s 7.8-kilometre Rideau Canal Skateway for its total maintained ice surface of 165,621 m2, equivalent to 90 Olympic hockey rinks.
Winter Pleasures
In the winter, the Ottawa portion of the Rideau Canal is made into a gigantic skating rink which is the longest in the world. Since 1971, the National Capital Commission has maintained the canal's ice surface in winter. The 7.8-kilometre stretch of ice that winds through downtown Ottawa is known in winter as the Rideau Canal Skateway and receives an average of one million visits per season.
Summer Pleasures
In the summertime, the Rideau Canal turns into a beautiful throughway for boats and pleasure crafts. Peddle-boats, canoes, houseboats, and tour boats all share the canal. It is also the site of the very popular Tulip Flotilla during the Canadian Tulip Festival. Houseboats along the canal are among the best places to view Canada Day fireworks. The sidewalks alongside the canal are used by walkers, runners, cyclists, and roller-bladers. Ottawa lives and breathes its canal, all year round.
Details
Ice Conditions: The skateway usually opens for the season sometime between Christmas and New Year's Day, and is open daily weather permitting. For recorded information on ice conditions, call 613-239-5234.
