The Rideau Canal is 202 km, and connects Lake Ontario at Kingston to the Ottawa River at Ottawa. It is made up of a chain of lakes, rivers and artificial channels. The water flows from the Upper Rideau Lake, near Smiths Falls both northeast toward Ottawa in the Rideau River and southwest toward Kingston in the Cataraqui River. The Rideau River and the Canal are the same waterway for most of the River's length. The River diverges from the Canal in Ottawa. The Canal has a system of 47 locks providing boats access to the Ottawa River. The locks allow the water level to be maintained to allow for navigation.

The Rideau Canal was designated a Canadian Heritage River in 2000.

Adapted from the Canadian Museum of Nature’s The Nature of the Rideau River