The Rideau Canal is Ottawa’s defining landmark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that winds through the heart of the city from the Ottawa River. In summer its tree-lined banks and locks are perfect for strolling, cycling and boat cruises, while in winter a long stretch freezes into the Rideau Canal Skateway, one of the world’s largest natural skating rinks. A living piece of 19th-century engineering and a year-round focus of city life, it is central to the Ottawa experience.