Dow's Lake, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada during Winterlude 2009 Festival by T. E. Smith-Lamothe

Canon G7

Dow's Lake forms part of the Rideau Canal which threads through Ottawa's downtown. It is famous for being "the world's longest skating rink" (see image from space in GoogleEarth). Many of Canada's civil servants and even politicians can skate to work in winter using the handy canal. Winterlude is an annual celebration in early February of all things "winter" --- including ice and snow sculpture contests, frigid outdoor concerts with light shows, and snow-related sporting events at three main venues (two in Ottawa and one across the river in Gatineau, Quebec). The canal has convenient kiosks along its length for hot chocolate, "Beaver Tail" pastries, washrooms, and skate rental kiosks. Dow's Lake, on the day this was taken, was hosting an air rescue helicopter and a sea rescue zodiac display by the Canadian Armed Forces, a snow sculpture (in-progress) of polar bears chasing seals off an iceberg, a "Tiger Train" for kids, and, of course, hundreds of skaters. To find out more about the Winterlude Festival, go to: www.ottawa-information-guide.com/winterlude.html