A Virtual Tour of The Ottawa River

Logging in and around the Ottawa River Valley.

As mentioned, logging was and is part of the history of the Ottawa River. Flowing from the south into the Ottawa, the Gatineau River was also a popular means to transport logs harvested in Quebec into the mills for processing. Today, logs are transported by truck for delivery to the mills. In this image we see an example of some logging operations near Lac McGregor, just north of the City of Gatineau in Quebec.

The band combination used to generate this image results in forested areas appearing in shades of green. Coniferous trees have a darker green appearance while broad-leafed deciduous trees appear in brighter shades of green. Recently logged areas, having their trees removed, appear as sharp edged areas contrasting with treed areas. Removing the mature trees exposes underlying brush and smaller trees. After a few years, the first trees to repopulate an area are generally broadleaf deciduous trees resulting in brighter lime green blocks of terrain. Close examination of this image illustrates logged areas in different stages of regrowth and some examples of selective logging wherein only some trees were removed, leaving nearly mature trees to continue growth until they too will be harvested. The practice of selective logging helps maintain the natural balance of the area while providing livelihood for the foresters. Recall, logging was a big part of the history of the cities of Ottawa and Hull which just happens to be where we'll end our little tour.

Click here to return to the front door of our site. Order your copy of the full scene poster.