Source: Archives of OntarioCanada’s countless lakes, rivers and streams played a central role in the country’s history and development. For Aboriginal peoples and the early European settlers, the lakes and rivers were a means of transportation and a source for food. The rivers carried furs, trade goods, and explorers, heralding the influx of settlers into the wilderness. Waterways determined the patterns of settlement as well as the patterns of industrialization.

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Next: Canada's Water Culture

Adapted from Environment Canada's Freshwater Website