RIVER PROFILE
"Coliseum" is the
third last rapid on the Main Channel of the Ottawa River.
Directly before Dog's Leg, Coliseum is
largest rapid on the Main Channel at high water levels. I have seen a large commercial
raft with the stern clear of the trough before the bow reaches the crest of the wave. It
is BIG. The photo above does not do the rapid justice as the wave is all but non existent
at this water level.
At lower water levels (as in the photo above)
the rapid starts off with a nice clean tongue. There is an eddy on river left about half
way down the rapid. It is an incredibly powerful eddy that quickly and forcefully draws
you to the top. It's eddyline is very wide and extremely unstable. The eddy provides you
very little opportunity to rest. There are a couple of holes present in the later half of
the rapid. The larger on is a little right of centre followed by another a bit down stream
and river left.