The Rideau Canal, a World Heritage Site, has been given a major acclamation by the National Geographic Society.

The National Geographic Society's Center for Sustainable Destinations has rated the Ottawa to Kingston Canal as second best in the world on the 2008 "Places Rated" Destination Stewardship survey.

A panel of 280 experts deemed the canal highly authentic, and one expert observed "very good harmony between the canal, managed surroundings at locks, and natural environment." -- news.nationalgeographic.com