This virtual is placed in order to bring you to a beautiful spot along the Rideau Canal. Lock 36 or originally known at the Isthmus, is an important one for many reasons. Historically, the lock construction was marred by hard bedrock and malaria. Much is written of the trials over several seasons of construction on the many information boards on site. Take some time to read them. Initially I was going to tell the stories, but decided it’s best to read them when you get there.
The Rideau Canal is North America’s oldest continuously operating canal. It is a 202 km long chain of lakes, rivers and canal cuts and is one of nine historic canals in Canada. Originally built between 1826-32 for military defense, the Rideau canal is now maintained and operated by Parks Canada as an historic recreational waterway.
Lock 36, or the Isthmus, marks the highest point on the canal. From here water flows North to Ottawa, and South via the Cataraqui to Kingston. For boaters, there is an important factor to take into consideration when passing through this lock. If you come here in the warmer weather, you will notice the flower planters are painted green and red, or red and green (depending how you look at them). Why is that? Here is the explanation:
There are many different types of navigation markers, but a very basic rule of thumb to remember is "Red Right Returning" which means that if you are in the navigation channel, that red coloured buoys will be on your right (starboard) when you are returning upstream to home port. In the Rideau, since it crosses a height of land, we actually have two upstream directions, with Newboro being the home port in both instances. Kingston to Newboro is upstream, so travelling this direction, markers to Newboro will have a red buoys on the right, and green on the left. Past Newboro it switches since you are now travelling downstream to Ottawa, so red will now be on the left and green on the right.
If you are travelling from Ottawa to Kingston, you will have red buoys on your right from Ottawa to Newboro as you travel upstream, and then the red buoys will be on your left as you travel downstream from Newboro to Kingston. Pretty simple all in all. The charts clearly show this so you can't go wrong.
In June 2007, the Rideau Canal was designated by UNESCO as the 14th world heritage site in Canada, and the first world heritage site in Ontario. As a world heritage site, the Rideau canal is part of a family of places that have meaning and importance to the global community.
In order to log this virtual, please do the following:
- Take a picture of yourself standing in front of the yellow sign you will find at the given coordinates. If you don’t wish to be in the photo, you may just show your arm holding your gps or some piece or outer apparel (hat, gloves, glasses, shoe?).
- Send me an email giving me the answers to the following:
A) what do you think this yellow sign is there for?
B) In the rock right above the sign (walk up to the next level), you will find a Geodetic Survey marker. Email me the number on the marker (6 digits). Should the Survey marker be hidden by snow or ice, find your way to the back of the Lockmaster building and give me the Number on the Hydro Meter which begins with J37_ _ _ _ _.
C) What happened in 1966 at this lock? Find the answer on one of the info boards.
No need to wait for a response from me to log. I will respond if there is an incorrect answer or if the picture is missing. Please upload the picture at the same time you send your answers.
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.