How did the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence River connect Montreal to other regions?

The St. Lawrence River and the Ottawa River were instrumental in establishing Montreal as a vital transportation and commercial hub, particularly during the era of the North American fur trade.12

• St. Lawrence River: This waterway served as a primary corridor connecting Montreal to the Great Lakes and the heart of the North American continent. While the Lachine Rapids initially presented a challenge to navigation, the river remained a critical route for traders to reach the Great Lakes and, via Lake Michigan, the Mississippi and Missouri river systems.1
• Ottawa River: As the chief tributary of the St. Lawrence, the Ottawa River provided a essential route for explorers, missionaries, and fur traders to travel into the interior regions to the west and north, extending as far as Hudson Bay.132

Montreal’s strategic location at the confluence of these two rivers allowed it to function as an ideal entrepôt, facilitating the movement of goods across a vast interior fur empire. Over time, these natural waterways were further developed through engineering projects like canals and dredging to maintain the city's status as a major transportation centre.124