Two Lakes from One / d'Une Pierre Deux Coups

Before the Rideau Canal was constructed, The Narrows was a shallow part of one large lake. Original plans called for a channel to permit navigation, but tough granite and malaria upstream at the Isthmus caused difficulties in digging across the height of land to Newboro Lake. A lockstation was built to raise the water level 4 ft. and reduce the depth of excavation across the Isthmus by the same amount. Upper Rideau Lake then became a distinct body of water from Big Rideau Lake, and this new lake became the summit level of the Rideau Canal, from which water flows south to Kingston and north to Ottawa.

Ontario · Canada