Too mild a winter in Canada

The place is known in Ottawa, The Rideau Canal is the world’s largest skating rink and UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, will not open this year for the first time in its history because of a winter too mild, confirmed its managers.

“Despite our best efforts, the weather got the better of us for the first time in our history,” they posted on Twitter.

“We are unable to open the rink for the season,” they added in a statement.

There are very strict conditions so that this channel, which stretches below the major monuments of the capital (Parliament, Senate, university …) is practicable, the mercury must remain between -10 and -20 degrees for nearly two weeks.

Usually, it was generally accessible from late December at its inception in the 1970s, the channel now opens most often mid to late January. In 2020, for example, it was not possible to skate until January 28.

Despite colder temperatures in Ottawa over the past 24 hours, this was not enough to reverse the trend.

Residents and regular skaters complained about this situation, climate change is doing its work and the Canadian winter is a thing of the past.

A professional team is monitoring the ice in the hope that they can open the site.

“I wish I could skate on it, but the best I can do now is just watch it,” said Lani Simmons, 46, from Bermuda.

With abnormally high temperatures in December and January – sometimes barely negative – Ottawa is expected to have its third warmest winter on record this year, according to officials.

The site management has been studying the effects of climate change on the canal for several years and says it is “preparing for it”, including trying to better understand how ice forms.

Stretching more than 7.8 km through the heart of Ottawa, the Rideau Canal attracts an average of 22,000 visitors a day.

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Louis Torronde

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Too mild a winter in Canada

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The place is known in Ottawa, The Rideau Canal is the world's largest skating rink and UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, will not open this year for the first time in its history because of a winter too mild, confirmed its managers. "Despite our best efforts, the weather got the better of us for the first time in our history," they posted on Twitter. "We are unable to open the rink for the season," they added in a statement. There are very strict conditions so that this channel, which stretches below the major monuments of the capital (Parliament, Senate, university ...) is practicable, the mercury must remain between -10 and -20 degrees for nearly two weeks. Usually, it was generally accessible from late December at its inception in the 1970s, the channel now opens most often mid to late January. In 2020, for example, it was not possible to skate until January 28. Despite colder temperatures in Ottawa over the past 24 hours, this was not enough to reverse the trend. Residents and regular skaters complained about this situation, climate change is doing its work and the Canadian winter is a thing of the past.

"I wish I could skate on it, but the best I can do now is just watch it," said Lani Simmons, 46, from Bermuda. With abnormally high temperatures in December and January - sometimes barely negative - Ottawa is expected to have its third warmest winter on record this year, according to officials. The site management has been studying the effects of climate change on the canal for several years and says it is "preparing for it", including trying to better understand how ice forms. Stretching more than 7.8 km through the heart of Ottawa, the Rideau Canal attracts an average of 22,000 visitors a day.