Hog's Back Falls facts for kids
The Hog's Back Falls, also called the Prince of Wales Falls, are a cool series of waterfalls in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. You'll find them on the Rideau River, just north of Mooney's Bay. This spot is special because it's where the Rideau Canal separates from the Rideau River.
These waterfalls aren't completely natural. They were created when the Rideau Canal was built a long time ago.
The Story of Hog's Back Falls
Before the Rideau Canal existed, this area had gentle rapids instead of waterfalls. People called them the Three Rock Rapids. The name "Hog's Back" became popular just before the canal was built.
In 1827, an engineer named John MacTaggart described them. He said it was "a noted ridge of rocks, called the Hog’s Back." This name came from how raftsmen (people who floated timber rafts) would get their rafts stuck there. The rapids were about 600 metres (2,000 feet) long and dropped about 1.8 metres (6 feet). Canoes could easily pass through them without needing to be carried around.
Building the Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal was designed by Lieutenant Colonel John By. His plan for the canal involved building a big dam at this location. This dam would help direct water from the Rideau River into a new, man-made part of the canal. This new section would lead boats towards the locks in Ottawa.
Building this dam was one of the biggest challenges of the entire Rideau Canal project. It actually collapsed three times during construction! But when it was finally finished in 1831, the dam raised the water level of the Rideau River by 12.5 metres (41 feet).
To handle the natural flow of the Rideau River and prevent flooding, a large structure called a wastewater weir was built. Water from this weir flows through a channel that was dug out of the river's eastern bank. This is how the Hog's Back Falls we see today were created!
The top part of the original rapids is now hidden under the canal dam. However, you can still see the lower part of the old rapids today.
Hog's Back Falls Today
This location is very important for the Rideau Canal. It's where the canal leaves the Rideau River and enters a man-made waterway. This waterway then leads to a series of locks that lower boats down to the Ottawa River. It's a great spot to visit and see how engineering changed the landscape!
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