Ottawa, the capital of Canada is located at the confluence of the
Ottawa River and Rideau River, and lies across the Ottawa from
Hull. It was initially a rendezvous point for fur traders, explorers and lumbermen. Champlain established a base camp here in 1613 for his future expeditions. The first settlers arrived in 1796, and were later joined by veterans of the Napoleonic Wars and American Revolutionary War. The building of the
Rideau Canal in 1826 brought pulp and paper mills to the area. The prosperous lumber village became known as Ottawa, after the Outaouac Indians, and Queen Victoria chose it as the capital in 1857. The National Capital Commission is charged with beautification and development of the city, and maintains the municipal parks, tree-lined streets, and landmarks.