The Rideau Canal in Ottawa , Canada, the
world's largest
ice skating rink and
a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will not open this year for the first time in its history due to too mild a winter, its operators confirmed Friday.
"Despite all our efforts, the weather beat us for the first time in our history," those responsible for operating the channel said on Twitter.
"We are not in a position to open the track for the season," they added in a statement.
An image that this year will not be able to see: skating on the 7.8 kilometers of the canal in the capital of Canada.
For this channel that crosses the heart of the Canadian capital to be passable, the thermometers must remain
between -10 and -20 degrees Celsius for about two weeks.
Although in its beginnings in the 1970s it used to be accessible from the end of December, now it opens more frequently in the middle or even the end of January.
In 2020, for example, you had to wait until January 28 to skate there.
However, the coldest temperatures recorded in Ottawa over the last 24 hours were not enough to reverse the trend.
In the summer, the Rideau Canal becomes a fantastic promenade for water activities.
In mid-February, tourists and Ottawa residents - who sometimes skate to work - expressed disappointment to AFP.
"I wish I could skate on it, but the best thing I can do right now is look at it," said Lani Simmons, 46, of Bermuda.
With unusually high temperatures in December and January,
at times just below freezing
, Ottawa is expected to record its third warmest winter this year, according to officials.
Site managers have been studying the effects of
climate change on the canal for several years
and say they are "preparing," particularly by trying to better understand ice formation.
The Rideau Canal stretches along
7.8 kilometers of the Canadian capital
, and runs through its main monuments, such as the Parliament, the Senate and the University, among others.
It attracts about 22,000 visitors on average per day.
Source: AFP
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