River Activities In Ottawa If You Rent Close To The Rideau Canal

By Matt Adams

The decision to rent a house in Ottawa, Ontario provides your family with the opportunity to take part in many river or water activities. The city is ideally situated at the meeting place of of three powerful rivers. The beautiful Gatineau, the Ottawa, and the Rideau Rivers all have banks within a short distance of the city limits. With the Rideau Canal winding through the heart of the city, Ottawa has endless beautiful waterfront parks and pathways. These parks and pathways are the sites of dozens of activities, planned and unplanned, that take place across the four seasons.

The Ottawa River, which runs East West between Ottawa Ontario, and Hull Quebec, is the main river in the area. Follow this river to the East and you meet up with the Saint Lawrence River, and eventually you will end up in the Atlantic Ocean. The other two rivers that join up are the Gatineau River which flows from the North into the Ottawa river, and the Rideau River which flows north from Upper Rideau Lake and empties into the Ottawa River at the Rideau Falls.

Sailing is a very popular sport on the Ottawa River. There are several clubs along the river in the Ottawa vicinity, but because you can not navigate the Ottawa River through Ottawa, some of these clubs are separated and the boats sail in their own respective waters. The two most popular clubs are at the West end of the city, and are the Brittania Yacht Club - the oldest of the two and most typical of an old private sailing club, and the Nepean Sailing Club, which was originally a city run establishment, but has since turned into a private members only club.

If you sail from either of these clubs, you have access to a large wide area of the Ottawa river called Lake Deschennes. If you travel West you have a 27 mile section of water travelling to the Chat Falls hydro electric dam near the small town of Fitzroy Harbour. To the East you will find a series of rapids, separating this part of the Ottawa River from the section travelling through Ottawa. There are many pleasure sailors, as well as club racers who use this section of the river, and at times it can get quite crowded.

Other than sailing, there are plenty of other ways that you can appreciate the 3 large river systems that converge at Ottawa. The Rideau Canal, as well as the Ottawa River, have extensive waterside parks and trail systems, which are ideal for walking, running, cycling and rollerblading. If you prefer to be on the water, there is plenty of opportunity to kayak, with several outdoor stores offering rentals and lessons. Canoes are also available, and of course the age old pastime of fishing is always very popular. For tourists, there are several tours available which give you a history of the town and rivers while you enjoy a scenic ride either on the Ottawa River or the Rideau Canal.

There are plenty of fun activities to take part in if you live in Ottawa, Ontario. Finding a house for rent near to the canal or the rivers is relatively easy. Rent a house in Ottawa and enjoy everything the convergence of three mighty rivers. - 30555

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