The Ottawa River is a river of contrasts and surprises. For over two centuries, the Ottawa was a significant gateway to Canada's natural riches – first as a travelway by the Algonquin, then as a major fur trade route, and later as a vector to some of the interior's finest stands of timber. Fortunes were made on the riverbanks as log raft after log raft descended its waters. Yet the Ottawa is also a keeper of its secrets: stands of old growth white pine and raging whitewater are but a few glimpses into its past. The Ottawa River's vast 1,271 kilometre stretch defines the border between the fertile lowlands of Ontario and the rugged forests of Quebec.