Canal Wars
Rideau canal at the confluence of the Ottawa river is a scenic and recreational point and a UNESCO world heritage site. The canal freezes in winter and is converted into a skating rink at this point. However, as I have made my lifelong motto to avoid harsh winters, I don’t think I will be seeing it in winter.
The canal however has two historical stories that I find interesting.
The first is about the purpose it was built for. Canadians were worried about further attacks from the Americans coming from New York after the 1812 war between the US and Canada. They were concerned about losing access to the Atlantic Ocean from Kingston, where their naval base was. They, therefore, built a canal by connecting lakes between Kingston and Ottawa river using locks where necessary. The Ottawa river meets the St Lawrence river further downstream in Montreal. The combination of the Rideau Canal and the Ottawa river therefore could bypass the vulnerable section of St Lawrence between Kingston and Ottawa.
The threat of American attacks never materialized. However, the canal was used instead for commercial purposes for transporting goods. This was because St Lawrence had rapid currents between Kingston and Montreal and it was safer to use the canal instead of the St Lawrence river. It could also serve northern Canada from the Great Lakes region.
The second story is not so much about the military wars, but the competition between the US and Canada on gaining an advantage in the goods transport route between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. I was earlier aware of the ultimate advantage New York gained on goods transport over Philadelphia and Baltimore because of the Erie Canal. But the Erie Canal also diverted goods traffic from the Rideau Canal in Canada.
Today, many of these giant man-made waterways of yesteryears are mostly scenic touristy hotspots. But they do have their stories to tell about their role in developing cities and regions of North America into what they are today. While your eyes feast on the visual beauty of nature, your mind can feast on this contemplation.
