Geography of Ottawa

National Capital Region by SPOT Satellite in 2003

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 1,017,449 people.[1]

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.

Topography

The highest point in Ottawa 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 / 45.23472°N 76.05083°W / 45.23472; -76.05083 (Ottawa high point)).[2] 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
Ward Highest point Elevation (approx.)
West Carleton-March Ward 2.6 km (1.6 mi) SSE of Manion Corners 166 m (545 ft)
Rideau-Goulbourn Ward 8 km (5.0 mi) N of Munster on Jinkinson Road 153 m (502 ft)
Kanata South Ward Glen Cairn Reservoir 131 m (430 ft)
College Ward Khymer Court 129 m (423 ft)
Stittsville Ward Rockson Crescent 128 m (420 ft)
Kanata North Ward Huntsville Drive 126 m (413 ft)
Osgoode Ward 1 km (0.62 mi) SE of Bank Street at Rideau Road 120 m (390 ft)
Cumberland Ward Cumberland Ridge Drive 120 m (390 ft)
Barrhaven Ward Cedarview Road 120 m (390 ft)
Gloucester-Southgate Ward Tom Roberts Avenue 119 m (390 ft)
Knoxdale-Merivale Ward Cedarview Road at Cedarhill Drive 115 m (377 ft)
River Ward Carlington Hill 115 m (377 ft)
Bay Ward Wesley Clover Parks 114 m (374 ft)
Gloucester-South Nepean Ward Osgoode Link Pathway at High Road 114 m (374 ft)
Innes Ward 200 m (660 ft) WSW of Forest Ridge Pumping Station 114 m (374 ft)
Beacon Hill-Cyrville Ward Quarry Park 113 m (371 ft)
Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward Foxview Place 106 m (348 ft)
Alta Vista Ward Alta Vista Drive at Randall Avenue 102 m (335 ft)
Capital Ward Bank Street at Alta Vista Drive 96 m (315 ft)
Orléans Ward Clearcrest Crescent 93 m (305 ft)
Kitchissippi Ward Maitland Avenue Bridge 89 m (292 ft)
Somerset Ward Parliament Hill 86 m (282 ft)
Rideau-Vanier Ward Richelieu Park 75 m (246 ft)

Geology

Stromatolite strata near Champlain Bridge
Mer Bleue bog
Burnt Lands Alvar

Many features of geologic interest are found in Ottawa.[3]

Site Feature
W. Erskine Johnston Public School Glacially sculpted Precambrian gneiss outcrops
Kanata Centrum Shopping Centre Sandstone and dolomite outcrops
Stony Swamp Conservation Area Cambrian-Ordovician sandstone strata
Champlain Bridge Stromatolite fossils
Westboro Beach Stromatolite, orthocone and trace fossils
Transitway at Roosevelt Avenue Stromatolite fossils
Tunney's Pasture Cross-section of the Gloucester Fault
Geological Survey of Canada Fossiliferous limestone outcrop
Hog's Back Falls Ordovician sedimentary rocks and the Gloucester Fault
Mer Bleue Bog Boreal peatland
Victoria Island Dune bedforms and fossiliferous limestone
Lady Grey Drive Ordovician limestone deposits
Pinhey's Point Glacial erratics
Petrie Island Sedimentary shoreline with imported Ordovician blocks
Carp Hills Outcrops of the Canadian Shield
Pinhey Sand Dunes Dunes from an ancient shoreline of the Champlain Sea
Cardinal Creek Karst Paleozoic karst
Burnt Lands Alvar Limestone alvar
Colonel By Valley Shallow valley that descends into the Ottawa River
Nanny Goat Hill Steep limestone escarpment

Climate

Classification

Ottawa Climate according to major climate systems
Climatic scheme Initials Description
Köppen system[4][5] Dfb Warm-summer humid continental climate
Trewartha system[6] Dcb Continental climate


Recent data

Climate data for Ottawa (Central Experimental Farm), elevation: 79.2 m (260 ft), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1872–present[a]
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)
Mean daily maximum °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)
Mean daily minimum °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[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] and Weather Atlas[16]
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)
Mean daily maximum °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)
Mean daily minimum °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[17][18][19][20][21][22]

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

Climate data for Ottawa (Central Experimental Farm), elevation: 79 m (259 ft), 1961-1990 normals
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −6.4
(20.5)
−4.5
(23.9)
1.8
(35.2)
10.8
(51.4)
18.6
(65.5)
23.6
(74.5)
26.4
(79.5)
24.7
(76.5)
19.7
(67.5)
12.8
(55.0)
4.8
(40.6)
−3.6
(25.5)
10.7
(51.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −10.7
(12.7)
−9.2
(15.4)
−2.6
(27.3)
5.9
(42.6)
13.0
(55.4)
18.1
(64.6)
20.8
(69.4)
19.4
(66.9)
14.7
(58.5)
8.3
(46.9)
1.5
(34.7)
−7.2
(19.0)
6.0
(42.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −15.1
(4.8)
−14.0
(6.8)
−7.1
(19.2)
0.9
(33.6)
7.3
(45.1)
12.5
(54.5)
15.3
(59.5)
14.1
(57.4)
9.6
(49.3)
3.8
(38.8)
−1.9
(28.6)
−11.0
(12.2)
1.2
(34.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 50.8
(2.00)
49.7
(1.96)
56.6
(2.23)
64.8
(2.55)
76.8
(3.02)
84.3
(3.32)
86.5
(3.41)
87.8
(3.46)
83.6
(3.29)
74.7
(2.94)
81.0
(3.19)
72.9
(2.87)
869.5
(34.24)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 14.1
(0.56)
14.7
(0.58)
30.0
(1.18)
57.8
(2.28)
76.2
(3.00)
84.3
(3.32)
86.5
(3.41)
87.8
(3.46)
83.6
(3.29)
71.8
(2.83)
64.1
(2.52)
29.5
(1.16)
700.4
(27.59)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 46.1
(18.1)
41.0
(16.1)
27.2
(10.7)
6.7
(2.6)
0.6
(0.2)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
2.9
(1.1)
19.1
(7.5)
53.9
(21.2)
197.5
(77.5)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 15 12 12 12 13 13 12 12 13 13 15 16 158
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 3 3 6 11 13 13 12 12 13 13 11 5 115
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 14 11 7 2 trace 0 0 0 0 trace 5 14 53
Mean monthly sunshine hours 103.4 129.2 158.7 188.1 232.5 253.0 279.0 240.5 170.0 137.9 81.9 80.1 2,054.3
Source: Environment Canada[23]
Climate data for Ottawa (Ottawa International Airport), elevation: 116 m (381 ft), 1938-1990 normals
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −6.3
(20.7)
−4.6
(23.7)
1.8
(35.2)
10.8
(51.4)
18.6
(65.5)
23.6
(74.5)
26.4
(79.5)
24.6
(76.3)
19.6
(67.3)
12.8
(55.0)
4.7
(40.5)
−3.7
(25.3)
10.7
(51.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) −10.8
(12.6)
−9.2
(15.4)
−2.7
(27.1)
5.6
(42.1)
12.8
(55.0)
17.9
(64.2)
20.8
(69.4)
19.2
(66.6)
14.3
(57.7)
7.9
(46.2)
1.0
(33.8)
−7.6
(18.3)
5.8
(42.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −15.5
(4.1)
−14.0
(6.8)
−7.3
(18.9)
0.3
(32.5)
7.1
(44.8)
12.2
(54.0)
15.1
(59.2)
13.7
(56.7)
8.9
(48.0)
3.0
(37.4)
−2.8
(27.0)
−11.7
(10.9)
0.8
(33.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 58.0
(2.28)
58.6
(2.31)
64.8
(2.55)
69.0
(2.72)
76.4
(3.01)
76.9
(3.03)
88.1
(3.47)
92.0
(3.62)
82.9
(3.26)
74.8
(2.94)
86.4
(3.40)
82.5
(3.25)
910.4
(35.84)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 15.3
(0.60)
16.4
(0.65)
32.0
(1.26)
58.0
(2.28)
74.8
(2.94)
76.9
(3.03)
88.1
(3.47)
92.0
(3.62)
82.9
(3.26)
70.3
(2.77)
62.5
(2.46)
32.6
(1.28)
701.8
(27.62)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 49.6
(19.5)
45.2
(17.8)
32.3
(12.7)
9.1
(3.6)
1.2
(0.5)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
4.1
(1.6)
24.2
(9.5)
55.8
(22.0)
221.5
(87.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 16 13 13 12 13 12 11 11 12 13 16 18 160
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 3 3 7 10 12 12 11 11 12 12 11 6 110
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 15 12 9 3 trace 0 0 0 0 1 8 16 64
Average relative humidity (%) 71 68 66 61 61 66 67 71 74 73 77 77 69
Source: Environment Canada[24]

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):

Other rivers and creeks within City of Ottawa:

Features of the Ottawa River

Kìwekì Point
Chaudière Falls

(from east to west)

Features of the Rideau River

Rideau Falls

(from north to south)

Waterfalls

Lakes

Brewer Park Pond

References

  1. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (9 February 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  2. ^ Ottawa High Point, Ontario
  3. ^ "Ottawa-Gatineau Geoheritage". Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  4. ^ "Ottawa, Ontario Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Report from Task 4 of MEWS Project - Task 4-Environmental Conditions Final Report". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  7. ^ "Ottawa CDA". Environment Canada. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  8. ^ "Daily Data Report for May 2010". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  9. ^ "Daily Data Report for January 1874". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Daily Data Report for November 1875". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  11. ^ "Daily Data Report for August 1884". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  12. ^ "Daily Data Report for February 2011". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  13. ^ "Daily Data Report for March 2012". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  14. ^ "Daily Data Report for December 2012". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  15. ^ "Daily Data Report for February 2017". Environment Canada. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  16. ^ "Ottawa, Canada - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast". Weather Atlas. Yu Media Group. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  17. ^ "Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 Station Data: Ottawa, Ontario". Environment Canada. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  18. ^ "1981 to 2010 Canadian Climate Normals". Environment Canada. 2 July 2013. Climate ID: 6106000. Archived from the original on 2020-07-18. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  19. ^ "Daily Data Report for October 2015". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Climate ID: 6106000. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  20. ^ "Daily Data Report for March 2012". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Climate ID: 6106000. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  21. ^ "Daily Data Report for December 2012". Environment Canada. 22 September 2015. Climate ID: 6106000. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  22. ^ "Electricity use to hit highest in years this week in Ontario". The Weather Network. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  23. ^ "Canadian Climate Normals 1961-1990 Station Data Ottawa CDA". Environment Canada. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  24. ^ "Canadian Climate Normals 1961-1990 Station Data Ottawa International Airport". Environment Canada. Retrieved 21 May 2019.

External links

  • Take a Virtual Cruise on the Ottawa River
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