Iconic Rideau Canal Skateway Reopens After a Two-Year Hiatus,

Canada 🇨🇦

Canada‘s world-renowned Rideau Canal Skateway, the largest natural ice skating rink globally, is set to welcome skaters once again after a two-year closure, announced the National Capital Commission (NCC).

The 7.8-km (4.9-mile) Rideau Canal Skateway, an integral part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ottawa, will open its icy expanse to enthusiasts seeking outdoor thrills during Canada’s typically frigid winters.

https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9242813102262574(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Last season, the canal remained closed for the first time in over 50 years due to insufficient ice, attributed to a mild winter influenced by climate change, as reported by the NCC.

Learning from the challenges faced last year, NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum expressed optimism, stating, “Our team…put measures in place, helped by more seasonal temperatures, to make it happen this year.”

https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9242813102262574 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

A 1.9-kilometer section, spanning from the Pretoria Bridge to the Bank Street access points, will be accessible to skaters during the reopening.

The NCC has stringent criteria for opening, requiring the ice to be at least 12 inches (30 cm) thick, with 10 to 14 consecutive days of temperatures between minus 20 Celsius and minus 10 Celsius (minus 4 and 14 degrees Fahrenheit).

https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9242813102262574(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Acknowledging the impact of climate change, the NCC and the Standards Council of Canada have commissioned a climate change risk assessment to prepare for potential scenarios, indicating that seasons with less than 40 days of skating could become more frequent.