Thursday, September 17, 2009

Ottawa Rivers Offer Many Benefits For Renting A House In Ottawa

By Susan M Adams

Living in Ottawa has many advantages. Ottawa, Ontario is perfectly located at the junction of three major rivers. These rivers include the Gatineau River, the Ottawa River, and the Rideau River. With the addition of the Rideau Canal which snakes through the heart of of the city, Ottawa has plenty of picturesque waterfront parks and pathways. These parks and pathways lend themselves to all sorts of pleasant activities.

Running from west to east is the Ottawa River , visible from the downtown core it provides a beautiful backdrop for this historic city. To the North of Ottawa on the other side of the river is the sister province of Quebec. Several bridges connect the Ottawa region with the Hull/Gatineau region, each of which employ a large number of government of Canada employees. Flowing into the Ottawa River from the North is the Gatineau River, and flowing into the Ottawa River from the South is the Rideau River. At the very center of downtown are the Rideau Locks which join the Rideau Canal to the Ottawa River.

There are plenty of water sports to enjoy on the Ottawa River, including sailing and sightseeing cruises. There are several sailing clubs located on the Ottawa River, all of which are private clubs. Even so, you can arrange a private sailing lesson and explore the river. Other ways to experience the Ottawa river are on the many sightseeing river cruises, including a few amphibious city/river tours.

Although you cannot navigate the Ottawa River from East to West Ottawa due to several rapids and the Portage Bridge, each side of the river has plenty of room to sail in their respective directions. In fact, if you were to sail from the easterly side of the rapids you could sail down the Saint Lawrence Seaway all the way out to the Atlantic Ocean. The sailing clubs just West of the city sail in a wide part of the river called Lac Dechenes, and further West until stopped by the Chats Falls Dam.

Sailing isn't the only way to enjoy the waterways of the Ottawa region. Another popular activity is kayaking or pedal boating in Dows Lake the canal towards the parliament buildings where the Rideau Canal meets the Ottawa River with a set of locks. Of course you don't even have to be on the rivers and canal to enjoy them. There are miles of bike and walk paths lining all the rivers and the canal, which are used by thousands of bikers, walkers, joggers and rollerbladers.

If you are renting a house in Ottawa, don't overlook the benefits of living so close to so many converging waterways, including the Rideau Canal which runs right through the heart of Ottawa. If you are lucky enough to find a house for rent close to the canal, take advantage of the year round activities that it offers - from canal tours, to bike paths, to winter skating, it will sure to be one of your Ottawa highlights.

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