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The Rideau Canal traverses a wide range of terrain between downtown Ottawa, Ontario Canada. It wanders 200 or so kilometres until it reaches downtown Kingston, Ontario, and empties into the majesty of Lake Ontario, one of the world's great freshwater lakes.
In Ottawa, the Rideau Canal empties into the pcituresque Ottawa River.
Mid-way between Ottawa and Kingston, the water of the myriad of lakes that make up much of the Rideau chain either flows north towards Ottawa, or south towards Kingston.
In the photo below, you are looking north from the Rideau St. / Wellington St. bridge, one of the many that span the canal, and down the Rideau locks towards the Ottawa River in the distance.
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In downtown Ottawa, the Rideau Canal drops steeply to the Ottawa River in between the East Block of Canada's Parliament Buildings, and the graceful lines of the famous Chateau Laurier Hotel. As you wander the junction of where Rideau Street, Wellington Street and Elgin Street meet, you are literally steps from Parliament, Canada's War Memorial, the National Arts Center, close to Byward Market, the Rideau Center and a myriad of other sites that welcome the resident and visitor to the Nation's Capital City.
In Ottawa, the Rideau Canal is almost a four-season attraction.
Visiting the entire length of the canal from Ottawa to Kingston, or the reverse, is a wonderful one or two day trip, depending on whether you wish to overnight at either end, or in between.
More to come....
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