Poonamalie
Rideau Canal National Historic Site
Poonamalie is located on the western outskirts of Smiths Falls and provides a quiet destination for overnight boaters and campers. A scenic 1 km walking trail leads to the upstream control dam and weir. This lock features plenty of parking and a boat launch.
How to get here
Poonamalie
22 Poonamalie Road
Rideau Lakes, Ontario
GPS: 44°53'34"N 76°03'20"W
Phone
613-283-3543
Email
rideau@pc.gc.ca
Navigational data
- Distance from Ottawa: 101.1 km (62.8 mi)
- Distance from Kingston: 101.0 km (62.8 mi)
- Nautical chart: #1513 (Sheet 1)
- Lock length: 40.8 m (134 ft)
- Lock width: 9.7 m (33 ft)
- Average lift: 2.2 m (7.2 ft)
Facilities and services
- Overnight mooring (2 nights max)
- Camping
- Washrooms
- Barbecue grills
- Potable water
- Shore power
- Boat launch
- Picnic tables
- Parking (limited)
History
This site's original name was First Rapids, because it is the first set of rapids encountered in a descent toward Ottawa on the Rideau system."First Rapids" was used interchangeably with "Poonamalie" until the late 1850s, after which the latter name dominated. The name comes from Poovirundavalli, a town near Chennai (Madras) in India, which became Poonthamalli, that name anglized to Poonamallee. It was a garrison town for the British Army and tradition has it that the cedars at Poonamalie reminded one of the British military men of similar scenery at Poonthamalli, India.
Read more history about this lockstationRelated links
- Ottawa Locks
- Hartwells
- Hogs Back
- Black Rapids
- Long Island
- Burritts Rapids
- Lower Nicholsons
- Upper Nicholsons
- Clowes
- Merrickville
- Edmonds
- Old Slys
- Smiths Falls Combined
- Smiths Falls Detached
- Lower Beveridges
- Upper Beveridges
- Colonel By Island
- Narrows
- Newboro
- Chaffeys
- Davis
- Jones Falls
- Brass Point Bridge
- Upper Brewers
- Lower Brewers
- Kingston Mills
- Date modified :