The Rideau Waterway / Voie navigable du Canal Rideau

The Rideau Waterway stretches 202 kilometres through a chain of lakes, rivers and canals, linking Smiths Falls, the heart of the Rideau, to the historic city of Kingston on Lake Ontario and to Ottawa, Canada's capital. To follow the Rideau Waterway is not only a trip through some of the most picturesque countryside in eastern Ontario, but also a voyage through history. , The Rideau Canal National Historic Site, the core of the Rideau Waterway, was built between 1826 and 1832. It is the oldest continuously operated canal in North America. Originally conceived as a key part of a military defence system for Upper Canada (now Ontario), it soon became a route for local trade and luxury steamers. The Rideau Canal is considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century. Thirty-one locks raise vessels 83 metres from the Ottawa River to the height of land, south of here at Newboro on Upper Rideau Lake, and 14 locks lower vessels to Lake Ontario at Kingston. The tradition of hand-operating the locks and swing bridges continues at most lockstations, but one of the few electronically operated locks on the system can be seen here. Along the Rideau, one finds a unique blend of wildlife, city life and country life, of past and present, nature and culture. Designation of the Rideau Waterway as a Canadian Heritage River not only is testimony to its significance as a national treasure, but will also ensure stewardship and wise management of the waterway, and will safeguard the integrity of its unique resources for all time.