File:A river runs through it (48930086161).jpg

The Rideau River immediately north of Hog’s Back Falls

Saturday was a glorious blue sky Fall day in Ottawa, a perfect day to visit the Rideau River and the Hog’s Back Falls with our cameras. Walking around the Falls and associated park land it was incredible to think that we were right in the middle of the City of Ottawa.

“The Hog’s Back Falls, officially known as the Prince of Wales Falls (but rarely referred to by this name), are located just north of Mooney’s Bay and are the point where the Rideau Canal splits from the Rideau River and enters an engineered canal leading to the Ottawa locks. “(1)

“Ottawa’s Hog’s Back Park was developed in the 1950s, and it occupies an area of over 20.8 hectares. During the construction of the Rideau Canal (1826–1832), one of the most challenging dam-building projects took place at Hog’s Back.” (2)

“Prior to the construction of the Rideau Canal, the falls were a gentle set of rapids known as Three Rock Rapids. The name Hog’s Back came from Civil Engineer John MacTaggart, who in 1827 described them as “a noted ridge of rocks, called the Hog’s Back”. These rapids were about 600 metres in length with a drop of about 1.8 metres. They were navigable by canoe, no portage was required.” (1)

Sources: (1) <a href="http://www.capitalgems.ca/hogs-back-falls.html" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.capitalgems.ca/hogs-back-falls.html</a>