Jones Falls Dam, Stone arch dam and lock system in Rideau Lakes, Ontario, Canada.
Jones Falls Dam is a stone arch structure with an integrated lock system that spans across a deep gorge to control water flow. The construction features a masonry face combined with a clay core, allowing boats to pass between water levels at different elevations.
This structure was completed in 1831 as the highest dam in North America at that time, built over several years under British Royal Engineers. Its construction represented a major engineering achievement for the early 19th century waterway development.
The structure forms part of a waterway system that has connected lakes and rivers for nearly two centuries, and boat traffic still passes through its locks today. Visitors can observe vessels moving between different water levels, a sight that remains central to how locals and travelers experience the place.
The site is free to visit and has parking available nearby where you can leave your car to explore on foot. Walking trails lead from the parking area to the structure and connect to surrounding rest areas and viewpoints.
The stone construction creates surprising sound effects where voices and noises echo along the surface, producing an unusual acoustic property of the structure. Many visitors discover this phenomenon unexpectedly while walking across the dam.
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