Ontario is not only a lake, but an entire province in Canada. It is the most populous in this country. The province has many amazing attractions: museums, parks, lakes, waterfalls and numerous islands. Tourists from all over the world come to Ontario to see unique objects and get acquainted with the national culture of the country.
History
Until the 17th century, the lands of the current province of Ontario were inhabited by Indian tribes. These were the Iroquois, Ottawa, Hurons, Algonquins and some other groups. In 1611, the first British visited the territory. A little later, a few years later, the first French settlers landed in the area near Lake Huron. For some time, the struggle for land ownership between the inhabitants of the two European states lasted. After 1763, the British retained the right to rule.
A clear division into provinces occurred in the second half of the 19th century. Toronto becomes the capital of Ontario, the region is gradually developing industry, the first power plants appear. And in the 20th century, the automotive industry became the main profitable industry: it was then that suchcompanies like Ford Motor and General Motors.
After World War II, a large number of people from European countries immigrated to Canada. The population of the country and the province is growing. Today, Ontario is a province inhabited by representatives of different nationalities and races.
Description
Ontario is slightly over a million square kilometers. The territory occupies the central part of the country and borders with some US states. In particular, with Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and some others. Part of the borders run along the Great Lakes, that is, they are natural. Ontario is the capital of the entire state - the city of Ottawa.
Elevation differences in the terrain are mostly small. The relief is dominated by plains and lowlands. As for the mountains, Ishfatin Peak is called the highest point. It is located at an altitude of 693 meters above sea level.
The types of natural areas that can be seen in Ontario are tundra, taiga and mixed forests. The climate of the north and south differs significantly. The southern part receives a large amount of precipitation, but the seasons are relatively warm. In the northern zones, the climate is characterized by short, cool summers and long winters.
Ontario Economy
The province has a very developed industrial production. According to this indicator, Ontario is ahead of even Quebec. In addition to the aforementioned automotive industry, the region produces various types of equipment, plastics, a significant share is exported to the United States.states. The mining industry is also developed: the subsoil is rich in s alt, silver, granite and marble.
Six nuclear power plants were built in Ontario and are still in operation today. One of the world's largest energy companies, Ontario Power Generation, operates here. It is also worth noting that there are no problems with aviation and transport links in the province. In addition to roads and railways, there are also waterways running along rivers and canals.
Attractions
The main and most popular tourist attraction in Ontario is Niagara Falls. It is located near the border with America, on the Niagara River. In fact, the tourist site is a whole complex of waterfalls, which include the following: "American", "Veil" and "Horseshoe". For the most part, the territory of Canada belongs to the latter. On both sides of the border between the two states are the cities of Niagara Falls. These are two different settlements, despite the same name. On Canadian territory, there is a famous golf club near the falls.
Those who want to explore the vegetation and fauna of Ontario (Canada) should definitely visit one of the local National Parks. These include the Royal Botanical Gardens in the south of the province. The facility is divided into five separate zones. Visitors will see rare species of plants in the arboretum and rose garden. Lilac bushes of various varieties are planted in a separate area of the garden.
Rare andEndangered deer forks live in the north of Canada, in the Pucascua National Park. Arriving in this area, it is worth stopping in the town of Marathon - the nearest settlement, which is located on the shores of Lake Superior. The park also contains rare plants such as black spruce.
Toronto
The largest, most developed and modern city in Ontario is Toronto. It is the business center of the entire country. The transport system is well developed here, and high-rise buildings are currently under construction. The population of the city in 2016 was 2.7 million people, if residents of nearby settlements are not taken into account. It is in this area that the business and finances of the entire state are concentrated. With the emergence of a large number of jobs and an increase in the standard of living of the population, Toronto has become the largest city in the country.
Since the 50s of the last century, the construction of the subway began, which today includes 4 lines and 69 stations. Canada's main airport is also located in Toronto.
World-famous city attractions such as the CN Tower (553-meter TV tower, considered the highest on the planet until 2007), the CTV Masonic Temple, the Signs restaurant, which is unusual in that it employs only the deaf waiters.
Ottawa
The capital of Canada is also in Ontario. This is the city of Ottawa, inferior to Toronto in terms of the number of inhabitants and area. It stretches along the banks of the river of the same name, very close to the neighboring province of Quebec and its town of Gatineau. The city is inzone of mixed forests, has several objects of cultural heritage on its territory. For example, the Black Rapids gateway station. There are also architectural monuments of the 19th century, interesting sculptural compositions, museums and concert halls.
Depending on the purpose of the visit, tourists visit one or another area of Ottawa. In Downtown, there are mainly government buildings and office centers, in Lawertown - shops and expensive restaurants. Fans of historical places are recommended to visit the Sandy Hill, East or South Ottawa areas.
Lakes
Sights of the province of Ontario are also local lakes. There are quite a few of them, numbering about five hundred thousand.
It is worth starting the description with the reservoir of the same name. Lake Ontario (Canada) is included in the Great Lakes system, most of which are located in the United States. The mentioned reservoir is the smallest in area, and its depth is 244 meters. This is quite a lot, so Ontario is rarely covered with ice even in cold winters. Trout, pike, carp and some other species of fish live in its waters. Nipissing, Simcoe, Rice, Nipigon are also called beautiful and picturesque lakes of the region. Fishing is developed in almost every area. The names of the reservoirs have been preserved since the time when the Indians lived on the territory.
Museums
Ontario's most popular museum is the Royal Museum (ROM). Its expositions are devoted to the history and culture, not only of Canada, but also of other states. In the museum you can see objectsfound in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Among the exhibits are dinosaur skeletons, an Egyptian sarcophagus, works of ancient and modern art. The building is located in Toronto, next to Queen's Park.
There, in Toronto, is the Art Gallery, where visitors get acquainted with paintings and sculptures by Canadian authors. Visitors who want to get to know the history of the country better should definitely go to the Museum of the Canadian War (in Ottawa). The building houses a large collection of military artifacts, some of which you can even pick up.
If you plan your trip to Ottawa in advance, you can get to the air show, which is held annually by the Canadian Air and Space Museum. And in the museum building itself, visitors will see some military aircraft. The local museum of nature is also unique: in the early 2000s, its building was reconstructed and now has a glass dome of several floors on one side.
