As impressive as this natural ice rink is, the reason it exists is thanks to a remarkable feat of engineering. In 1832, the Rideau Canal opened, providing a military defense and a crucial commercial shipping connection from the Ottawa River to Lake Ontario. The entire canal stretches 125 miles and is the oldest continuously operating canal system in North America — and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ontario. According to UNESCO, it was one of the earliest canals in the world designed for steam-powered vessels. Today, it is mostly used for recreation, including the 4.8-mile section that transforms each winter into the Rideau Canal Skateway, which first opened to the public in 1971.
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