FILE PHOTO: People skate on the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest skating rink, during a period of subzero Arctic weather in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada January 14, 2022. REUTERS/Patrick Doyle/File Photo
By Ismail Shakil and Kanishka Singh
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada’s renowned Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest natural ice skating rink, will open for skating on Sunday morning for the first time in two years, the National Capital Commission (NCC) said.
The 7.8-km (4.9-mile) Rideau Canal Skateway, which first opened over 50 years ago, is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Canada’s capital city Ottawa and is also a top attraction for skating enthusiasts seeking outdoor thrills during Canada’s usually biting cold winters.
FILE PHOTO: People skate on the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest skating rink, during a period of subzero Arctic weather in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada January 14, 2022. REUTERS/Patrick Doyle/File Photo
The canal did not open to skating last season in early 2023 for the first time due to a lack of ice, NCC, which maintains and operates the skateway, said at the time, blaming the closure on a mild winter caused by climate change.
“Our team learned a lot from the challenges we faced last year and were able to put measures in place, helped by more seasonal temperatures, to make it happen this year,” NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum said.
“A 1.9 kilometre section between the Pretoria Bridge and the Bank Street access points will be open to skaters,” the NCC said.
The NCC has previously said it can only open when the ice is at least 12 inches (30 cm) thick, for which there must be 10 to 14 consecutive days of temperatures between minus 20 Celsius and minus 10 Celsius (minus 4 and 14 degrees Fahrenheit).
The NCC and the Standards Council of Canada have commissioned a climate change risk assessment to understand the impact of climate change on the Skateway.
Under the scenario of moderate emissions, “the NCC should prepare for seasons with less than 40 days of skating approximately 50% of the time,” it says.
(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Sandra Maler)
News Related-
Russian court extends detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich until end of January
-
Russian court extends detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, arrested on espionage charges
-
Israel's economy recovered from previous wars with Hamas, but this one might go longer, hit harder
-
Stock market today: Asian shares mixed ahead of US consumer confidence and price data
-
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Sister Wives' star Christine Brown says her kids' happy marriages inspired her leave Kody Brown
-
NBA fans roast Clippers for losing to Nuggets without Jokic, Murray, Gordon
-
Panthers-Senators brawl ends in 10-minute penalty for all players on ice
-
CNBC Daily Open: Is record Black Friday sales spike a false dawn?
-
Freed Israeli hostage describes deteriorating conditions while being held by Hamas
-
High stakes and glitz mark the vote in Paris for the 2030 World Expo host
-
Biden’s unworkable nursing rule will harm seniors
-
Jalen Hurts: We did what we needed to do when it mattered the most
-
LeBron James takes NBA all-time minutes lead in career-worst loss
-
Vikings' Kevin O'Connell to evaluate Josh Dobbs, path forward at QB