The 'Big Rideau Lake' is a
lake in
Eastern Ontario,
Canada. The lake is located 72 kilometres (45 miles) to the southwest of
Ottawa, Ontario, is 32 kilometres (20 miles) long and is 6 kilometres (4 miles) wide. The lake is much narrower at is northeastern end than at its southwestern end. The lake forms part of the
Rideau Waterway, and is the largest lake along the route of the Rideau waterway. The
Upper Rideau Lake is connected to the Big Rideau Lake through the
Narrows Locks at the southwestern end of the lake. The small community of
Rideau Ferry is located at the junction between the Big Rideau and
Lower Rideau Lake, at the northeastern end of the lake. The town of
Portland, Ontario is located along the southern shore of the lake. A
speed skating tournament is held each winter on the Big Rideau Lake at Portland
[1]
The
shoreline of the Big Rideau Lake is lined with hundreds of
cottages and
homes. A
public recreation area and
campground, Murphy's Point Provincial Park
[2] [3], is located along a substantial stretch of the shoreline on the northern side of the lake.
The Big Rideau Lake Association (BRLA)
[4] is a
non-profit organization that was formed in
1911 and is based in
Portland, Ontario, situated on the lake. Its purpose is "to preserve and enhance the quality of life on Big Rideau Lake."
The common fish found in the Big Rideau Lake include sunfish, rock bass, northern pike, large and small mouth bass, crappie and lake trout.