Rideau River
Encyclopedia
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
which flows north from Upper Rideau Lake and empties into the Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
at Rideau Falls
Rideau Falls
The Rideau Falls are two waterfalls located in Ottawa, Canada where the Rideau River empties into the Ottawa River. The falls are divided by Green Island, with the Old City Hall just to the south. To the west of the falls is the headquarters of the National Research Council while to the east are...
in Ottawa, Ontario. Its length is 146 km
1 E5 m
A length of 100 kilometers , as a rough amount, is relatively common in measurements on Earth and for some astronomical objects.It is the altitude at which the FAI defines spaceflight to begin....
. The river was given the French name "Rideau" (curtain) after the appearance of this waterfall.
The Rideau Canal
Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal , also known as the Rideau Waterway, connects the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on the Ottawa River to the city of Kingston, Ontario on Lake Ontario. The canal was opened in 1832 as a precaution in case of war with the United States and is still in use today, with most of its...
, which allows travel from Ottawa to the city of Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
on Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
, was formed by joining the Rideau River with the Cataraqui River
Cataraqui River
The Cataraqui River forms the lower portion of the Rideau Canal and drains into Lake Ontario at Kingston, Ontario. It is also known as the Great Cataraqui River or the Greater Cataraqui River to distinguish it from the smaller Little Cataraqui Creek, 4.5 km to the west...
. The river diverges from the Canal at Hog's Back Falls
Hog's Back Falls
The Hog's Back Falls, officially known as the Prince of Wales Falls, but rarely referred to by this name, are a series of artificially-created waterfalls on the Rideau River in Ottawa, Canada...
in Ottawa.
In early spring, to reduce flooding on the lower section of the river, workers from the city of Ottawa use ice blasting
Ice blasting
Ice blasting is the use of explosives to break up ice in rivers, greatly aiding navigation systems.This is done during the spring when snow is melting and river ice is breaking up. There is always a chance that the ice flows could collide creating an ice jam and blocking the river. The river,...
to clear the ice which covers the river from Billings Bridge
Billings Bridge
Billings Bridge is a bridge over the Rideau River in Ottawa. Bank Street passes over the river by way of this bridge. The bridge was named after Braddish Billings, who settled in this area and established a farm nearby in 1812. The first bridge, originally called Farmers Bridge, was built over the...
to Rideau Falls by cutting "keys" through the ice and using explosives to break off large sheets of ice. This practice has been going on for more than 100 years.
Tributaries
- Adrians Creek
- Duck Creek
- Tay RiverTay River (Ontario)The Tay River is a river in Eastern Ontario which empties into the Rideau River.This river starts in Bobs Lake and flows through Christie Lake. The river then travels through Glen Tay, continuing to Perth. The river splits into two main channels as it flows through downtown Perth. The two...
- Black Creek
- Otter Creek
- Rosedale Creek
- Irish Creek
- Babers Creek
- Atkinsons Creek
- Rideau Creek
- Dales Creek
- Brassils Creek
- Murphy Drain
- Kemptville CreekKemptville CreekThe Kemptville Creek is a tributary of the Rideau River, located in North Grenville township in Leeds and Grenville County within Eastern Ontario, Canada. The Kemptville Creek is in length and flows through several communities, including Kemptville, Ontario, Oxford Mills, Ontario and Bishop's...
- McDermott Drain
- Cranberry Creek
- Steven Creek
- Mud CreekMud CreekThere are hundreds of streams or places named Mud Creek, 881 of which are in the United States, according to the USGS GNIS.*Mud Creek tributary of the Angelina River*Mud Creek Glacier on California's Mount Shasta...
- Jock RiverJock RiverThe Jock River, known locally as the Mighty Jock, is a tributary of the Rideau River, named after Jacques, a French man who drowned in it in the early 19th century. At one time, it was known as the Goodwood River...
- Black Rapids Creek
- Nepean Creek
- Sawmill Creek
Communities along the Rideau include:
- OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario - Manotick, OntarioManotick, OntarioManotick, Ontario is an exurb in Eastern Ontario on the Rideau River, located on the south edge of Ottawa's urban area. Manotick is located immediately south of the booming suburbs Barrhaven and Riverside South and is about from downtown Ottawa. It has been part of the City of Ottawa since...
- Kars, OntarioKars, OntarioKars is a small village on the Rideau River within the rural section of the city of Ottawa, Ontario. Prior to amalgamation in 2000 it was part of Rideau Township....
- Merrickville, Ontario
- Smiths Falls, OntarioSmiths Falls, OntarioSmiths Falls is a town in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the census division for Lanark County, but is considered a separated town and does not participate in county government...