Description of the attraction
Among the many attractions of the city of Ottawa, the Rideau Falls undoubtedly deserve special attention - two picturesque twin falls located at the confluence of the Rideau River with the Ottawa River, not far from the Old City Hall. In relative proximity to the falls are also the headquarters of the National Research Council, the building that housed a museum until 2005 - the "Pavilion of Canada and Peace" and the French Embassy. The so-called Green Island lies between the falls.
The name of the waterfalls was given at the beginning of the 17th century by the famous French traveler and hydrographer, as well as the founder and governor of the first French settlements in Canada - Samuel de Champlain. Seeing the waterfalls for the first time, Champlain compared them to a curtain, which in French sounds like "rido" (rideau). This name was assigned to the waterfalls, and later the river, canal and a number of other objects in Ottawa were also named.
Enjoy the beauty of Rideau Falls by visiting the excellent viewpoints at Rideau Falls Park, located on Sussex Drive, just a short walk from Rideau Hall. From a closer distance, you can admire the waterfalls by going on an entertaining boat trip on an excursion boat.
The Rideau Falls are especially impressive in winter. The power of the water flow is rather small and in winter the waterfalls freeze completely, thus forming original ice sculptures of the most bizarre forms.
Today, Rideau Falls is one of the most popular attractions in the capital of Canada.
