The capital of Canada, in southeast Ontario at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal. It was founded as Bytown during the construction of the Rideau Canal and renamed Ottawa in 1854. Victoria chose it as the capital of the United Provinces of Canada in 1858. In 1867 it became the capital of the newly formed confederation. Population: 840,000.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
