Dow's Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dow's Lake |
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Dows Lake Pavilion
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 Dow's Lake
Location in Ottawa
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| Location | Ottawa |
| Coordinates | 45°23′40″N 75°42′06″W / 45.394412°N 75.701551°W |
| Lake type | Artificial lake |
| Primary inflows | Rideau Canal |
| Primary outflows | Rideau Canal |
| Basin countries | Canada |
Dow's Lake in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, is a small lake made by people. It's part of the famous Rideau Canal. You can find it about two kilometers north of Hog's Back Falls, right in the middle of Ottawa. It's located at the south end of Preston Street, just south of Carling Avenue, and west of Bronson Avenue. Near the lake, you'll find Carleton University and the Dominion Arboretum, which is part of the Central Experimental Farm.
Contents
Discovering Dow's Lake History
How Dow's Lake Was Created
Dow's Lake is named after Abram Dow. He was an American settler who owned land here in 1816. Before the Rideau Canal was built, this area was a big swamp called Dow's Great Swamp. The lake was formed when a dam was built along the north shore. This dam allowed the area to flood, creating the lake we see today for the canal.
Dow's Lake in the 20th Century
In the past, the land around Dow's Lake was very different. Until the 1940s, the parkland to the north and east was mostly train yards and industrial areas.
Right next to the pavilion on the western shore is the Canadian Forces Reserve Barrack Dow's Lake. This building opened in 1943. It is home to HMCS Carleton, a unit of the Canadian Naval Reserve.
A train tunnel also passes under the lake. This tunnel was once used by the Canadian Pacific company. It replaced an old train line that used to cross the lake on the surface. In 2001, OC Transpo started using the tunnel for its O-Train system. Today, this is called the Trillium Line.
The Man With Two Hats Sculpture
Near Dow's Lake, you can see a large sculpture called The Man With Two Hats. It's 4.6 meters tall and was created by Henk Visch. Princess Margriet of the Netherlands helped to unveil it. This sculpture remembers the important role Canadian soldiers played in freeing the Netherlands during World War II. A copy of this sculpture is also in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. The sculpture faces the lake and shows the strong friendship between Canada and the Netherlands. It also marks Princess Margriet's birth at the Ottawa Civic Hospital.
Fun Things to Do at Dow's Lake
Enjoying the Canadian Tulip Festival
Every May, the park around Dow's Lake, called Commissioners Park, becomes a colorful display of tulips. The NCC (National Capital Commission) plants these tulips for the yearly Canadian Tulip Festival. You can see over 50 different types and about 300,000 tulips blooming along the Rideau Canal. It's a beautiful sight!
Winter Fun on the Ice
During the winter, Dow's Lake freezes over. It becomes part of the world's longest skating rink! In February, it's one of the main spots for the Winterlude festival. You can watch fun events like 'bed races' and 'waiter races' right on the ice.
Scenic Drives and Lakeside Dining
There are two beautiful roads that run along the canal and pass by the lake. The Queen Elizabeth Driveway is on the north and west sides of the lake. It's named after the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who traveled along it in 1939. The Colonel By Drive is on the south side of the lake. It's named after Lieutenant-Colonel John By, who founded the city.
At the north end of the lake, there's a pavilion built right over the water. It has three restaurants: Umbrella Bar, Lago, and Mexi's, all with great views of the water. The pavilion also offers canoe and paddle boat rentals. You can even moor your boat there. Inside, there's a changing area for skaters in winter. The pavilion is open all year round.
Images for kids
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Dows Lake Pavilion
