Waterways
Waterways are the fundamental layer of historic settlement and the source of original economic development in Eastern Ontario. Canada’s present and previous capital cities - Ottawa and Kingston - are both located on waterways in Eastern Ontario. These rivers were originally the dominant travel routes for furs, resource exploration, military activity and early settlement and are the reasons why many settlements are where they are today.
The Ottawa River was once an important fur trade and settlement route. It is now dammed for hydroelectricity generation purposes and used mainly for boating and recreation. The St. Lawrence Seaway is an international shipping route that is also man-made. It transects the attractive and bi-national tourism destination - the 1000-Islands. The Rideau Canal is an engineered landscape connecting ‘shield’ lakes together with the Rideau River at Ottawa and the Cataraqui River at Kingston. Many other rivers, lakes and waterway systems are found throughout Eastern Ontario. The South Nation River serves much of the eastern portion of Eastern Ontario. Other rivers such as the Tay, Mississippi and the Madawaska are popular white water recreation routes that have been artificially altered for hydroelectricity generation purposes. Many of today’s towns and villages front on one of these rivers. Many of the historic stone mills and other riverfront buildings have survived and re-used for another purpose.
Click the links below to find out more detailed information about the selected waterways that contributes to the distinctive character of Eastern Ontario:
Map Eastern Ontario's Waterways
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