The Ottawa River (French: Rivière des Outaouais, Algonquin: Kichi-Sìbì/Kitchissippi) is a river in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. It is named after the Algonquin word ‘to trade’, as it was the major trade route of Eastern Canada. For most of its length (1,271 km), it defines the border between the two provinces. It is a major tributary of the St. Lawrence River; draining into the Lake of Two Mountains and the St. Lawrence River at Montreal.
The river rises north of the Laurentian Mountains of central Quebec, and flows west to Lake Timiskaming. From there, its route defines the interprovincial border with Ontario flowing southeast to Ottawa and Gatineau, where it tumbles over Chaudière Falls. The dam at Chaudière Falls limits any further upstream navigation.
Samuel de Champlain and Étienne Brûlé, assisted by Algonquin guides, were the first Europeans to travel up the Ottawa River and follow the water route west along the Mattawa and French Rivers to the Great Lakes. It is well worth researching Samuel de Champlain as he was very instrumental in the development of Canada. Loopers will cross his wake a number of times during their journey through New York, Vermont, Ontario, Quebec, Georgian Bay and Lake Huron all the way to the Straights of Mackinaw.
Posts from the Ottawa River:
Moon Dance IV 