Victoria Island (Ottawa River)

Victoria Island
Native name:
Asinabka
Victoria Island is located in Southern Ontario
Victoria Island
Victoria Island
Victoria Island is located in Canada
Victoria Island
Victoria Island
Geography
LocationOttawa River
Coordinates45°25′15″N 75°42′46″W / 45.42083°N 75.71278°W / 45.42083; -75.71278[1]
Area5.6 ha (14 acres)[2]
Length724 m (2375 ft)
Width205 m (673 ft)
Highest elevation54 m (177 ft)[3]
Highest pointBooth Street
Administration
Canada
ProvinceOntario
Census DivisionOttawa
WardSomerset Ward

Victoria Island[4] (French: Île Victoria, Algonquin: Asinabka)[5] is an island in the Ottawa River, located north of LeBreton Flats, 1 km west of Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. The island is "a place of special significance" to the local Algonquian peoples,[2] who use the island for ceremonial purposes and for protests.[6] It is part of an archipelago of islands below Chaudière Falls, which also includes the former Philemon Island, Chaudière Island, Amelia Island and Albert Island.[7]

Both the Portage Bridge and Chaudière Bridge cross the island, connecting Ottawa to Gatineau, Quebec on the other side of the river. Otherwise, public access to the island is currently restricted due to an environmental remediation project set to be completed in 2025.[2] The project is projected to cost $13 million.[8]

  1. ^ "Victoria Island (Ottawa River)". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  2. ^ a b c "Site Remediation at Victoria Island". National Capital Commission.
  3. ^ Ontario Base Survey
  4. ^ "Victoria Island". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  5. ^ "NCC treats Spence camp as case of self-expression". Ottawa Citizen. January 10, 2013. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  6. ^ "Closing of Victoria Island in Ottawa catches some off guard". APTN.
  7. ^ "A Glimpse of Chaudière Falls". Ottawa Citizen. April 30, 2015. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  8. ^ "NCC closing Victoria Island for 7 years to clean up contaminated soil". Global News.