The Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal was built to bypass the part of the St. Lawrence River that forms the border between Canada and The U. S. A. That area was considered unsafe, particularly after the War of 1812. The planning began in 1826 and the canal was opened in 1832 with 47 locks and a length of 202 km.
The Rideau Canal is the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America. The word rideau is French for curtain. This was the appearance of the twin falls of the Rideau River, where it meets the Ottawa River, to Samuel de Champlain who travelled up the Ottawa River in 1613. The name Rivière du Rideau first appeared on maps in about 1700.
As you travel along the Rideau you will see most of the stonework and many of the buildings as they were in the 19th century.
Adventure Lab
The area covered by the Adventure lab is the part of the canal from flight of 8 locks in Ottawa to Long Island
You will visit 5 locks during this adventure and learn a little about each of them. While it would be a rather long walk, you can drive, cycle or boat to the five stages of the Adventure Lab.