The Rideau Canal, which stretches from Ottawa to Kingston, was confirmed as a World Heritage site on Thursday, joining more than 800 sites on the list of international cultural treasures. 

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) agreed on the designation at its meeting in New Zealand.

Construction on the Rideau Canal started in 1826 and it opened six years later.
(Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

"The Rideau Canal is of historical importance as it bears witness to the fight for control of the north of the American continent," said a news release from the organization.

"It is the only canal dating from the great North American canal-building era of the early 19th century to remain operational along its original line with most of its original structures intact."

Popular with skaters in the winter and boaters during the summer, the canal marked its 175th anniversary this year. It runs from Ottawa to Kingston, connecting lakes and rivers along its 202-kilometre route.

"I am proud that the Rideau Canal joins a select group of exceptional cultural and natural icons from Canada and across the world," said Environment Minister John Baird. "As a lifelong resident of Ottawa, I am especially pleased that this is Ontario's first site to achieve such a distinction."

The committee gave World Heritage status to several other sites Thursday, including Australia's Sydney Opera House, the old town of Corfu on the Greek island of Corfu, the Mehmed Pasa Sokolovic Bridge of Visegrad in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Iraqi city of Samarra.

The canal now joins the Taj Mahal of India and the pyramids of Egypt on the list of World Heritage sites.

Created by UNESCO in 1972, the list sets out to identify, protect and preserve the world's major cultural sites.

The 13 other Canadian sites on the list include:

• Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Alta.
• Historic District of Old Quebec.
• L'Anse aux Meadows, N.L.
• Old Town Lunenburg, N.S.
• SGang Gwaay, B.C.
• The Rocky Mountains.
• Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alta.
• Gros Morne National Park, N.L.
• Kluane/Wrangell-St.Elias/Glacier Bay/Tatshenshini-Alsek, Yukon and B.C.
• Nahanni National Park, N.W.T.
• Miguasha National Park, Que.
• Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, Alta.
• Wood Buffalo National Park, N.W.T. and Alta.