Ottawa River facts for kids

A map showing the Ottawa River's path.

The Ottawa River is a big and important river in Canada. It flows between two Canadian provinces: Ontario and Quebec. A large part of the river forms the border between these two provinces. The famous city of Ottawa, which is Canada's capital, was named after this river.

Where the Ottawa River Flows

The Ottawa River begins its journey in Quebec, starting from a lake called Capimitchigama. From there, it flows west until it reaches Lake Timiskaming. This is where the river starts to form the natural border between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

After Lake Timiskaming, the river turns and flows southeast. It passes by the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau. Here, the water creates beautiful waterfalls known as the Chaudière Falls. Two other rivers, the Rideau River and the Gatineau River, join the Ottawa River at this point.

Finally, the Ottawa River empties into the Lake of Two Mountains. From there, its waters join the much larger St. Lawrence River near the city of Montreal. The Ottawa River is very long, stretching for about 1,271 kilometers (790 miles).

Images for kids

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  In this false-colour satellite image, the Ottawa River flows southeast, joining the St. Lawrence River which flows northeast. Heavily forested areas appear differing shades of orange/red, while farmland is tan shades.

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  Ottawa River (view from the Peace Tower of Parliament Centre Block)

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  Ottawa River (view from the Peace Tower of Parliament Centre Block)

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  Map of the Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben

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  Ottawa River Stromatolite Bed, near the Champlain Bridge (Ottawa), with the Ottawa skyline in the background

See also

In Spanish: Río Ottawa para niños