End of the line- The lake usually freezes over in late December. In the wintertime, Dow's Lake & Rideau Canal become the "World's longest skating rink" with over 7 kilometers of groomed ice taking skaters from Dow's Lake to the National Arts Center and back again. In the lake, as can be seen,I observed 100's of Mallards (in the foreground) who were being very noisy and no doubt preparing for their overnight siesta.The Rideau Canal waterway flows through this lake.