Geography of Ottawa

This is the outline of the geography of the city of Ottawa, the capital of Canada. Ottawa's current borders were formed in 2001, when the former city of Ottawa amalgamated with the ten other municipalities within the former Regional Municipality of Ottawa–Carleton. Ottawa is now a single-tiered census division, home to 870,250 people.

National Capital Region by SPOT Satellite in 2003

The city centre is located at the confluence of the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers. The Ottawa River forms the entire northern boundary of the city which it shares with the province] of Quebec's municipalities of Pontiac and Gatineau. The northern boundary begins in the west at Arnprior and continues east to Rockland. The boundary then turns south in a straight line, separating the former Township of Cumberland (now in Ottawa) and the City of Clarence-Rockland. It then turns west in another straight line separating the former Township of Cumberland with the municipalities of The Nation and Russell. It then turns south separating Russell from the former Township of Osgoode (now in Ottawa). That boundary runs south in a straight line, then turns west separating Osgoode from the municipality of North Dundas. That boundary runs west in a straight line before turning north separating Osgoode from the municipality of North Grenville. This is another straight line, running north until the Rideau River near Kemptville. The boundary follows the river upstream until almost reaching Merrickville. The boundary then runs in a northwest direction in a straight line with a number of jogs. It separates the municipalities of Montague, Beckwith and Mississippi Mills from the former townships of Marlborough, Goulbourn, Huntley and Fitzroy.

Former townships

What is now Ottawa was once divided geographically into 11 townships. Ten of them in the former Carleton and one (Cumberland) in the former Russell County. The ten townships of Carleton were Fitzroy, Gloucester, Goulbourn, Huntley, March, Marlborough, Nepean, North Gower, Osgoode, and Torbolton.

Physical geography

The highest point in the city is 166 m (545 ft) above sea level, and is located 2.6 km (1.6 mi) SSE of Manion Corners (45°14′05″N 76°03′03″W).[1] The lowest point in the city is the Ottawa River, at 44 m (144 ft) above sea level.

Highest points by ward
Map of Ottawa showing urban area, highways, waterways, and historic townships
WardHighest pointElevation (approx.)
West Carleton-March Ward2.6 km (1.6 mi) SSE of Manion Corners166 m (545 ft)
Rideau-Goulbourn WardJinkinson Road, 8 km (5.0 mi) N of Munster153 m (502 ft)
Kanata South WardGlen Cairn Reservoir131 m (430 ft)
College WardKhymer Court 1 km (0.62 mi) N of Fallowfield129 m (423 ft)
Stittsville WardRockson Cresent128 m (420 ft)
Kanata North WardHuntsville Drive Kanata Lakes126 m (413 ft)
Osgoode Ward1 km (0.62 mi) SE of Bank Street & Rideau Road, South Gloucesterover 120 m (390 ft)
Cumberland WardCumberland Ridge Drive Quigley Hillover 120 m (390 ft)
Barrhaven WardCedarview Road, Cedar Hill Estatesover 120 m (390 ft)
Gloucester-Southgate WardTom Roberts Avenue Macdonald-Cartier International Airport119 m (390 ft)
Knoxdale-Merivale WardCedarview Road at Cedarhill Driveover 115 m (377 ft)
River WardCarlington Hill, (Carlington Heights Reservoir, Carlington Park) Carlingtonover 115 m (377 ft)
Bay WardCorkstown Road, Ottawa - Nepean Tent & Trailer Park114 m (374 ft)
Gloucester-South Nepean WardOsgoode Link Pathway (former CPR) & High Road, 4 km (2.5 mi) SW of Leitrim114 m (374 ft)
Innes Ward200 m (660 ft) WSW of Forest Ridge Pumping Station114 m (374 ft)
Beacon Hill-Cyrville WardQuarry Park, Rothwell Heights113 m (371 ft)
Rideau-Rockcliffe WardFoxview Place, Quarries106 m (348 ft)
Alta Vista WardAlta Vista (Alta Vista Drive & Randall Ave)102 m (335 ft)
Capital WardBank Street & Alta Vista Drive96 m (315 ft)
Orléans WardClearcrest Cresrnt, Fallingbrook93 m (305 ft)
Kitchissippi WardMaitland Avenue Bridge (over the Queensway)89 m (292 ft)
Somerset WardParliament Hill86 m (282 ft)
Rideau-Vanier WardRichelieu Park, Vanierover 75 m (246 ft)

Geology

Many features of geologic interest are found in Ottawa. [2]

SiteFeature
Kanata Centrum parking lotNepean and March Formations sandstone and dolomite
Stony Swamp Conservation AreaSedimentary structures in Paleozoic strata
Champlain BridgeStromatolite fossils in plan view
Westboro BeachStromatolites, orthocones and trace fossils
OC Transitway at Roosevelt AvenueStromatolite fossils in cross-section
Tunney's PastureGloucester Fault in cross-section
Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth StreetFossiliferous limestone
Hog's Back FallsOrdovician sedimentary rocks and the Gloucester Fault
Mer Bleue BogBoreal peatland
Victoria IslandDune bedforms and fossiliferous limestone
Lady Grey Drive behind Royal Canadian MintLimestones from a depositional environment of episodic storms
Pinhey's PointSandstone, limestone and glacial erratics at an historic homestead
Petrie IslandModern shoreline processes and the geology of imported blocks
Carp Hillsextension of the Canadian Shield ecosystem, with rock outcrops and woodlands
Pinhey Sand Dunes
Cardinal Creek Karst
W. Erskine Johnston Public SchoolGlacially sculpted Precambrian gneiss that displays foliation, folds and cross-cutting dykes

Climate

Classification
Ottawa Climate according to major climate systems
Climatic scheme Initials Description
Köppen system[3][4] Dfb Warm-summer humid continental climate
Trewartha system[5] Dcb Continental climate

Recent data
Climate data for Ottawa (Central Experimental Farm), elevation: 79.2 m (260 ft), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1872–present[lower-alpha 1]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 15.6
(60.1)		 12.7
(54.9)		 26.7
(80.1)		 31.2
(88.2)		 35.2
(95.4)		 36.7
(98.1)		 37.8
(100.0)		 37.8
(100.0)		 36.7
(98.1)		 29.4
(84.9)		 23.3
(73.9)		 17.2
(63.0)		 37.8
(100.0)
Average high °C (°F) −5.8
(21.6)		 −3.1
(26.4)		 2.4
(36.3)		 11.4
(52.5)		 19.0
(66.2)		 24.1
(75.4)		 26.6
(79.9)		 25.4
(77.7)		 20.5
(68.9)		 12.8
(55.0)		 5.5
(41.9)		 −2.0
(28.4)		 11.4
(52.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) −10.2
(13.6)		 −7.9
(17.8)		 −2.2
(28.0)		 6.5
(43.7)		 13.5
(56.3)		 18.7
(65.7)		 21.2
(70.2)		 19.9
(67.8)		 15.3
(59.5)		 8.4
(47.1)		 2.0
(35.6)		 −5.6
(21.9)		 6.6
(43.9)
Average low °C (°F) −14.4
(6.1)		 −12.5
(9.5)		 −6.8
(19.8)		 1.5
(34.7)		 8.0
(46.4)		 13.3
(55.9)		 15.7
(60.3)		 14.5
(58.1)		 10.1
(50.2)		 4.0
(39.2)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 −9.2
(15.4)		 1.9
(35.4)
Record low °C (°F) −37.8
(−36.0)		 −38.3
(−36.9)		 −36.7
(−34.1)		 −20.6
(−5.1)		 −7.2
(19.0)		 0.0
(32.0)		 3.3
(37.9)		 1.1
(34.0)		 −4.4
(24.1)		 −12.8
(9.0)		 −30.6
(−23.1)		 −38.9
(−38.0)		 −38.9
(−38.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 62.9
(2.48)		 49.7
(1.96)		 57.5
(2.26)		 71.1
(2.80)		 86.6
(3.41)		 92.7
(3.65)		 84.4
(3.32)		 83.8
(3.30)		 92.7
(3.65)		 85.9
(3.38)		 82.7
(3.26)		 69.5
(2.74)		 919.5
(36.20)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 23.0
(0.91)		 17.9
(0.70)		 28.8
(1.13)		 63.2
(2.49)		 86.6
(3.41)		 92.7
(3.65)		 84.4
(3.32)		 83.8
(3.30)		 92.7
(3.65)		 83.1
(3.27)		 67.5
(2.66)		 31.9
(1.26)		 755.5
(29.74)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 44.3
(17.4)		 34.7
(13.7)		 29.1
(11.5)		 7.2
(2.8)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 2.9
(1.1)		 16.0
(6.3)		 41.3
(16.3)		 175.4
(69.1)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 16.0 11.7 11.5 13.2 14.5 12.4 11.6 11.2 12.9 14.9 15.2 15.6 160.7
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 3.7 3.5 5.5 11.5 14.4 12.4 11.6 11.2 12.9 14.6 11.6 5.5 118.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 14.1 9.7 7.4 2.7 0.08 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.81 5.1 12.2 52.0
Mean monthly sunshine hours 99.3 131.3 167.1 189.8 229.8 254.2 279.0 249.3 177.6 139.4 84.3 82.6 2,083.7
Percent possible sunshine 35.0 44.9 45.3 46.9 49.9 54.3 58.9 57.1 47.1 41.0 29.4 30.3 45.0
Average ultraviolet index 1 2 3 5 6 8 7 7 5 3 1 1 4
Source: Environment Canada[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] and Weather Atlas[15]
Climate data for Ottawa (Ottawa International Airport), elevation: 114 m (374 ft), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1938–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high humidex 13.9 15.1 30.0 35.1 41.8 44.0 47.2 47.0 42.5 33.9 26.1 18.4 47.2
Record high °C (°F) 12.9
(55.2)		 12.4
(54.3)		 27.4
(81.3)		 31.1
(88.0)		 35.8
(96.4)		 36.1
(97.0)		 36.7
(98.1)		 37.8
(100.0)		 35.1
(95.2)		 27.8
(82.0)		 23.9
(75.0)		 17.9
(64.2)		 37.8
(100.0)
Average high °C (°F) −5.8
(21.6)		 −3.4
(25.9)		 2.5
(36.5)		 11.6
(52.9)		 19.0
(66.2)		 24.1
(75.4)		 26.5
(79.7)		 25.3
(77.5)		 20.4
(68.7)		 12.7
(54.9)		 5.4
(41.7)		 −2.3
(27.9)		 11.3
(52.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −10.3
(13.5)		 −8.1
(17.4)		 −2.3
(27.9)		 6.3
(43.3)		 13.3
(55.9)		 18.5
(65.3)		 21.0
(69.8)		 19.8
(67.6)		 15.0
(59.0)		 8.0
(46.4)		 1.5
(34.7)		 −6.2
(20.8)		 6.4
(43.5)
Average low °C (°F) −14.8
(5.4)		 −12.7
(9.1)		 −7.0
(19.4)		 1.0
(33.8)		 7.5
(45.5)		 12.9
(55.2)		 15.5
(59.9)		 14.3
(57.7)		 9.6
(49.3)		 3.3
(37.9)		 −2.4
(27.7)		 −10.1
(13.8)		 1.4
(34.5)
Record low °C (°F) −35.6
(−32.1)		 −36.1
(−33.0)		 −30.6
(−23.1)		 −16.7
(1.9)		 −5.6
(21.9)		 −0.1
(31.8)		 5.0
(41.0)		 2.6
(36.7)		 −3.0
(26.6)		 −8.0
(17.6)		 −21.7
(−7.1)		 −34.4
(−29.9)		 −36.1
(−33.0)
Record low wind chill −47.8 −47.6 −42.7 −26.3 −10.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 −6.4 −13.3 −29.5 −44.6 −47.8
Average precipitation mm (inches) 65.4
(2.57)		 54.3
(2.14)		 64.4
(2.54)		 74.5
(2.93)		 80.3
(3.16)		 92.8
(3.65)		 91.9
(3.62)		 85.5
(3.37)		 90.1
(3.55)		 86.1
(3.39)		 81.9
(3.22)		 76.4
(3.01)		 943.4
(37.14)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 25.0
(0.98)		 18.7
(0.74)		 31.1
(1.22)		 63.0
(2.48)		 80.1
(3.15)		 92.8
(3.65)		 91.9
(3.62)		 85.5
(3.37)		 90.1
(3.55)		 82.2
(3.24)		 64.5
(2.54)		 33.5
(1.32)		 758.2
(29.85)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 53.9
(21.2)		 43.3
(17.0)		 38.3
(15.1)		 11.3
(4.4)		 0.2
(0.1)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 3.7
(1.5)		 20.2
(8.0)		 52.5
(20.7)		 223.5
(88.0)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 16.6 13.1 12.7 12.4 13.4 13.2 11.9 11.0 12.3 14.3 15.2 17.4 163.6
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 4.4 3.9 6.7 10.9 13.4 13.2 11.9 11.0 12.3 13.7 11.0 6.0 118.4
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 16.1 12.1 8.8 3.5 0.17 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.1 6.8 14.7 63.3
Average relative humidity (%) 67.5 61.3 56.6 50.2 49.9 53.1 53.7 55.0 59.1 61.6 68.1 72.2 59.0
Mean monthly sunshine hours 122.4 114.1 168.5 187.5 210.5 274.0 301.4 231.9 211.5 148.8 92.4 68.8 2,131.7
Percent possible sunshine 43.1 39.0 45.7 46.3 45.7 58.6 63.7 53.1 56.1 43.7 32.2 25.2 46.0
Source: Environment Canada[16][17][18][19][20][21]

Notes
  1. Extreme high and low temperatures in the table below were recorded at Ottawa from March 1872 to October 1889 and at Ottawa CDA from November 1889 to present.

Historical data

Rivers and creeks
The Mississippi River.
The Rideau River is one of the two main rivers in Ottawa
The Ottawa River outside of Parliament Hill.

Tributaries of the Ottawa River (from east to west):

The Jock River

Tributaries of the Rideau River (from north to south):

  • Sawmill Creek
  • Nepean Creek
  • Black Rapids Creek
  • Mosquito Creek
  • Jock River
    • Mahoney Creek
    • Nichols Creek
    • Kings Creek
  • Mud Creek
  • Steven Creek
  • Cranberry Creek
  • McDermot Drain (mouth not in Ottawa)
  • Brassills Creek
  • Rideau Creek

Other rivers and creeks within City of Ottawa:

Features of the Ottawa River
Nepean Point.
Chaudière Falls.

(from east to west)

  • Petrie Island
  • Lower Duck Island
  • Upper Duck Island
  • Governor Bay
  • Nepean Point
  • Victoria Island
  • Chaudière Island
  • Chaudière Falls
  • Nepean Bay
  • Lemieux Island
  • Bell Island
  • Merrill Island
  • Nicholas Island
  • Lazy Bay
  • Little Chaudière Rapids
  • Remic Rapids
  • Bate Island
  • Cummingham Island
  • Riopelle Island
  • Deschênes Rapids
  • Britannia Bay
  • Graham Bay
  • Rocky Point
  • Crystal Bay
  • Beatty Point
  • Shirleys Bay
  • Haycock Island
  • Chartrand Island
  • Innis Point
  • Aylmer Island
  • Pinhey Point
  • Stony Point
  • Horseshoe Bay
  • Constance Bay
  • Sand Point
  • Buckham's Point
  • Buckham's Bay
  • Crown Point
  • Woolsey Narrows
  • Alexandra Island
  • Kedey's Island
  • Chats Falls
  • Morris Island
  • Lavergne Point
  • Lavergne Bay
  • Pickerel Bay
  • Snake Island
  • Indian Point
  • Marshall Bay
  • Pocket Bay
  • Goodwin Bay

Features of the Rideau River
Rideau Falls.

(from north to south)

Waterfalls

Lakes
  • Brewer Park Pond (Ottawa)
  • Constance Lake (Kanata)
  • Lac des Chats (West Carleton)
  • Dow's Lake (artificial, Ottawa)
  • Lac Deschênes (Nepean)
  • Lake Madawaska (West Carleton)
  • McKay Lake (Rockcliffe Park)
  • Mud Lake (Britannia)
  • Mud Pond (Kanata)
  • Sand Pits Lake (Rockcliffe Park)

Other geographical features
Mer Bleue bog
  • Beaver Island (West Carleton)
  • The Burnt Lands (West Carleton)
  • Canaan Hill (Cumberland)
  • Carlington Hill (Carlington)
  • Carp Hills (also known as Carp Ridge) (West Carleton)
  • Colonel By Valley (Ottawa)
  • Greenbelt (Nepean/Gloucester)
    • Mer Bleue (Cumberland/Gloucester)
    • Pine Grove Forest
    • Stony Swamp
  • LeBreton Flats (Ottawa)
  • Marlborough Forest (Rideau-Goulbourn Ward)
  • Nanny Goat Hill (Ottawa)
  • Quigley Hill (Cumberland)

Sources
  • National Resources Canada Topographic Maps
  • MapArt map of Ottawa
  • Ontario Base Survey
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References
  1. Ottawa High Point, Ontario
  2. "Ottawa-Gatineau Geoheritage". Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  3. "Ottawa, Ontario Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  4. Muller, M. J. (2012-12-06). Selected climatic data for a global set of standard stations for vegetation science. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9789400980402.
  5. "(PDF) Report from Task 4 of MEWS Project - Task 4-Environmental Conditions Final Report". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  6. "Ottawa CDA". Environment Canada. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  7. "Daily Data Report for May 2010". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  8. "Daily Data Report for January 1874". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  9. "Daily Data Report for November 1875". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  10. "Daily Data Report for August 1884". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  11. "Daily Data Report for February 2011". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  12. "Daily Data Report for March 2012". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  13. "Daily Data Report for December 2012". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  14. "Daily Data Report for February 2017". Environment Canada. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  15. d.o.o, Yu Media Group. "Ottawa, Canada - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast". Weather Atlas. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  16. "Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 Station Data: Ottawa, Ontario". Environment Canada. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  17. "1981 to 2010 Canadian Climate Normals". Environment Canada. 2 July 2013. Climate ID: 6106000. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  18. "Daily Data Report for October 2015". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Climate ID: 6106000. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  19. "Daily Data Report for March 2012". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Climate ID: 6106000. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  20. "Daily Data Report for December 2012". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Climate ID: 6106000. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  21. "Electricity use to hit highest in years this week in Ontario". The Weather Network. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  22. "Canadian Climate Normals 1961-1990 Station Data Ottawa CDA". Environment Canada. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  23. "Canadian Climate Normals 1961-1990 Station Data Ottawa International Airport". Environment Canada. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
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