The world’s largest natural ice skating rink has opened in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. It occupies a section of the Rideau Canal that runs through the city center.
The length of the skating rink is 7.8 kilometers. For many years it was considered the longest in the world. In 2008, the championship was taken from him by an 8.54-kilometer-long skating rink in the Canadian city of Winnipeg. However, the skating rink in Ottawa is wider, so it remains the largest in the world. Its area is equal to the area of 90 Olympic hockey rinks.
Last year the skating rink did not work because the winter was mild and the canal was not frozen enough. The skating rink is opened only when the ice thickness is at least 30 centimeters. To do this, the frost outside must be below 10 degrees for at least ten days in a row.
The Rideau Canal was built in the first half of the 19th century in case of a US invasion. It now connects Ottawa and Kingston. Its length is 202 kilometers. The canal is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In winter, the ice skating rink becomes part of the Winterlude festival. During the holiday, many events take place, including ice and snow sculpture competitions, music concerts and ice performances, as well as public ice skating.
