A Meeting Place Of Two Rivers

One day in early April I headed out to the New Edinburgh area to visit this waterfall. The Rideau Falls are where the Rideau River ends, pouring into the Ottawa River east of the downtown in two plunge falls, separated by Green Island. On this shore, the New Edinburgh side, the east falls were filled with spring run off. The falls were sighted by Champlain when he first came up the Ottawa River in 1613; Rideau means curtain in French. From time immemorial before that, First Nations tribes lived and journeyed through this area, and they were already familiar with this place.

In the background are a couple of buildings, both for the foreign ministry. The Diefenbaker Building, at left, stands on Green Island. Beyond it on the west shore of the Rideau River is the Pearson Building. And the National Research Council has labs facing the Pearson Building, seen at right in the background.

A look across the Ottawa River takes in the Gatineau shoreline. That wooded area is parkland, the Leamy Lake Park. Outlets of the Gatineau River merge with the river over there, though the main channel lies to the east.

I started along the bridge crossing over the falls.

Here we have a look at the east falls from the viewing platform on Green Island. We'll pick up from here tomorrow.