Rideau Canal, Historic waterway in Ontario, Canada
The Rideau Canal extends 202 kilometers between Ottawa and Kingston, incorporating natural waterways with 47 locks to manage elevation changes.
Engineers completed the canal in 1832 under Lieutenant Colonel John By to establish a secure military route following concerns about American expansion.
The waterway transformed from a military route into a central element of Ontario's transportation network, connecting communities and facilitating regional commerce.
The canal maintains 24 hand-operated lock stations, allowing vessels to navigate between different water levels while traveling through eastern Ontario.
During winter months, a 7.8-kilometer section of the canal freezes to form a natural skating surface in the center of Ottawa.
Location: Ontario
Part of: Rideau River
GPS coordinates: 45.42639,-75.69805
Latest update: May 28, 2025 17:56
Navigation locks are engineering structures that enable ships to pass through significant elevation changes between seas, lakes, and rivers. From the Panama Canal, where vessels rise 86 feet (26 meters) to cross the Isthmus, to the Three Gorges Dam in China, featuring five-stage locks managing a 371-foot (113-meter) height difference on the Yangtze River, these technical facilities have transformed global trade routes. The Soo Locks in the United States connect the Great Lakes, while the Kiel Canal in Germany links the North Sea to the Baltic Sea. Some structures, such as the Itaipu Dam between Brazil and Paraguay, combine navigation and hydroelectric power generation with a capacity of 14,000 megawatts. Others stand out with their innovative technical solutions: the boat lift in Peterborough, Canada, has used a hydraulic system since 1904, while the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland employs a rotating mechanism to lift 24 meters (79 feet). These facilities play a crucial role in international commerce and economic growth of the regions they serve.
Parliament Hill
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National Gallery of Canada
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Château Laurier
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Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council
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King's Privy Council for Canada
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Monument aux Valeureux
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Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography
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Plaza Bridge
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Queen's Gates
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Equestrian statue of Elizabeth II
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Former Geological Survey of Canada Building
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Public Grounds of the Parliament Buildings
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Ottawa Locks
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