Rideau River
The
Rideau River is a
Canadian river which flows north from Upper Rideau Lake and empties into the
Ottawa River at
Rideau Falls in
Ottawa, Ontario. Its length is
146 km. The river was given the French name "Rideau" (curtain) after the appearance of this waterfall.
The
Rideau Canal, which allows travel from Ottawa to the city of
Kingston, Ontario on
Lake Ontario, was formed by joining the Rideau River with the
Cataraqui River. The river diverges from the Canal at
Hog's Back Falls in Ottawa.
In early spring, to reduce flooding on the lower section of the river, workers from the city of Ottawa use
ice blasting to clear the ice which covers the river from
Billings Bridge to Rideau Falls by cutting "keys" through the ice and using
explosives to break off large sheets of ice.
Tributaries of this river include the
*
Jock River*
Mud Creek*
Steven Creek*
Cranberry Creek*
Kemptville Creek*
Brassis Creek*
Rideau Creek*
Barbers Creek*
Irish Creek*
Rosedale Creek*
Hutton Creek*
Otter Creek*
Black Creek (Drummond/North Elmsley)*
Tay River*
Black Creek (Big Rideau Lake watershed)Communities along the Rideau include:
* Ottawa, Ontario
*
Manotick, Ontario*
Kars, Ontario*
Merrickville, Ontario*
Smiths Falls, Ontario*
List of Ontario rivers*
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority*
Biodiversity of the Rideau River
