Carp-viewing from Flora Footbridge

I cross over the Rideau Canal in Ottawa on foot, almost every day, via the Flora Bridge. On one side at the base of the bridge there is a pond that feeds into the canal via two large pipes - one at each end. When the surface is calm and the water is clear, you can see a group of rather large carp fish cruising the neighborhood.

These carp are natural inhabitants of the waterways (i.e. not deliberately released), but they are not really native. They “invaded” the area because it’s easy to thrive here in the canal where there are no predators.

This particular group of fish loves to swim through the circulation pipes and visit the shallow warmer water almost every day. This spot is a popular stopping point for pedestrians who pause to view the fish them as they cross the canal.