Proposed statement of outstanding universal value

Chapter 3 - Justification for Inscription

1. Criteria under which inscription is proposed
2. Proposed statement of outstanding universal value
3. Comparative analysis
4. Authenticity

B. Proposed Statement of Outstanding Universal Value

In concept, design, and engineering, the Rideau Canal is the most outstanding surviving example of an early-19th century slackwater canal system in the world, and one of the first canals designed specifically for steam-powered vessels. It is an exceptional example of the transfer of European transportation technology and its ingenious advancement in the North American environment.

A rare instance of a canal built primarily for strategic military purposes, the Rideau Canal, together with its ensemble of military fortifications, illustrates the significant stage in human history when Great Britain and the United States of America vied for the control of the northern portion of the North American continent.