Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue CanalCanal de Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue |
|
|---|---|
The Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal and boardwalk
|
|
| Location | Quebec, Canada |
| Nearest city | Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue |
| Area | 1.6 hectares (4.0 acres) |
| Established | 1972 |
| Built | 1843 |
| Visitors | 181,000 (in 2003) |
| Governing body | Parks Canada |
| Website | Official website: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/qc/annedebellevue/index.aspx |
The Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal is a special waterway with a set of locks. It connects Lake Saint-Louis and Lake of Two Mountains. You can find it in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, which is at the very west end of Montreal Island in Quebec, Canada. This important place is also a National Historic Site of Canada.
Contents
What is the Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal?
The canal helps boats travel between two large lakes. It is like a watery shortcut around some shallow, fast-moving parts of the Ottawa River. These rapids are near Perrot Island (Île Perrot). The canal is part of a bigger system of waterways. This system lets boats go from the Saint Lawrence River all the way up the Ottawa River to the City of Ottawa. You can even reach Lake Ontario by using the Rideau Canal from there.
Fun Facts About the Canal Today
Today, the canal and its locks are mostly used for fun boat trips. It is a very popular spot for visitors! You can find places to tie up your boat, picnic tables, and even a spot to launch your boat. There is also a nice park area. Parks Canada offers guided tours and information panels to teach you about the canal.
The canal is lined with a boardwalk, restaurants, and cafes. In 2003, about 181,000 people visited the site. Around 23,000 boats used the locks that year. This made it the second busiest canal and lock system in Quebec! The lock itself is about 54.86 meters (180 feet) long. It is 12.19 meters (40 feet) wide and 2.74 meters (9 feet) deep. It lifts boats by about 1 meter (3 feet).
A Look Back: The Canal's History
Before this canal existed, there was another private canal nearby. It was built in 1816 on the west side of Perrot Island. The owners of this private canal had control over all the shipping that went upstream. Other business people thought this was unfair. They asked the government to build a public lock at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.
Building the First Canal
Plans for the public canal were first made in 1831. But there were many delays with money, management, and politics. So, construction did not start until 1840. The canal was finally finished on November 14, 1843. The first locks were about 58 meters (190 feet) long. They were 14 meters (46 feet) wide and 2 meters (6.5 feet) deep.
How the Canal Helped People and Trade
The new canal and locks were a huge help for people moving to new areas and for businesses. Soon after it opened, many people used it to travel upstream to settle in Upper Canada. It also brought a lot of business traffic. Because so many boats used it, and because the entrance was tricky, a second lock was needed.
In 1870, a group called the Canals Commission suggested building another lock. This second lock was built right next to the first one, on the east side. It was finished in 1882. The original locks were used less and less. By 1909, they were no longer used at all.
The Second Lock and Modern Changes
After the second canal was built, the Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal and other canals on the Ottawa River were mainly used to move wood to Montreal. This wood trade was very busy until 1919. After that, the logging business slowed down. From 1920 to 1963, things like sand, gravel, and oil products were the main items shipped.
In 1914, electric lights were added to the canal. In 1923, the gate systems became electric too. But trains became a more popular way to transport goods. So, the canal became less important for shipping. In the 1960s, many old buildings were removed. These included the toll collector’s house, a blacksmith shop, and a carpentry shop. The old wooden gates of the lock were replaced with strong steel ones. In 1964, the very first canal and locks from 1843 were completely filled in.
Becoming a Historic Site
In 1972, the canal, its locks, and the land around them were named a National Historic Site. This meant they would be protected and cared for by Parks Canada. Because of its important role in transportation and history, the canal is managed carefully.
