RIDEAU CANAL

canal in southeastern Ontario, Canada, that links Ottawa on the Ottawa River with Kingston on Lake Ontario. For nearly 125 miles (200 km) it follows the Rideau River southwest from Ottawa to its summit at Rideau Lake (406 feet ), and then continues via the Cataraqui River to Lake Ontario. It has 47 locks (each 134 feet long and 33 feet wide) and a depth of 5.5 feet; the 7-mile-long Tay branch, with two locks, links Rideau Lake with Perth. The canal was built (182632) as a military transport route but never served that purpose. In the 19th century, before commercial use, it was used to carry settlers.