Rideau Canal Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
canal between Ottawa and Kingston, Canada
About Rideau Canal
The canal was built by the British after the War of 1812 to provide a secure link betweenMontrealandKingston, without passing along the Saint Lawrence River because that river borders American territory. Colonel By of the Royal Engineers was in charge; the city at the north end of the canal, now calledOttawa, was founded as "Bytown". Construction started in 1827 and the canal was opened 5 years later in 1832, with 47 locks in 25 lock stations. While the total length of the route is 202 km, only about 19 km of canals were dug, as the rest of the route used lakes and rivers. TheBytown Museumby the Ottawa Locks in Ottawa is a good place to learn about the history of the Rideau Canal. Parks Canada displays four floors of museum exhibits at theRideau Canal Visitor Centre, a 19th century stone m
Rideau Canal Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 6 sections including: