Take a dip in the refreshing Ottawa River
- Canada Travel Tips
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- Monday, 13 August 2012 16:51
The Ottawa River is among the world's most refreshing and clean waterways in a capital city, according to Meredith Brown, the Ottawa Riverkeeper. Like so many major cities across the globe, the Canadian capital was built around the river because of its ability to provide sustenance and energy for small communities decades ago. Today, the river still serves as a centrepiece of the capital city, serving as a family friendly attraction for residents and visitors alike.
Oliver Brandes, the co-director of the POLIS project on Ecological Governance at the University of Victoria and leading authority on Canada's economic development, recently spoke with the Ottawa Citizen about why the Ottawa River is so important to everyday life in the city.
"The fact that these big [river] systems are there is why the city is there," Brandes told the news source. "Co-existence is part of the history of the city, because of the transportation routes, which was obviously critically important, but also for the ability to trade, interact, and then to reap all these economic and social benefits that come with that - and then be able to grow."
Ottawa River wildlife
What makes the Ottawa River so unique is its abundance of rare wildlife, including at-risk species like the spotted turtle as well as birds like the loggerhead shrike and least bittern. There are more than 85 species of fish that call this waterway their home, along with 53 mammal varieties, 300 types of birds and 33 different amphibians and reptiles. This resilient river has withstood urbanizing processes like damming, runoff, agriculture and even shoreline development, allowing the native flora and fauna to flourish without any major decreases in population.
One of the most popular activities for those who travel through Canada is getting to know the beautiful landscape, and the Ottawa River certainly does not disappoint, providing numerous opportunities for biking, sailing, kayaking and leisurely strolls along the waterway.
