Ontario: One of the Most Fascinating Provinces in Canada

   

Ontario is the most densely populated province and the second-largest in Canada, following Quebec, with a population of 12.7 million residents.     

Toronto is the capital of Ontario and at the same time, the financial and economic center of Canada. The cultural scene is among the best developed in the country.     

Situated along the north shores of the Ontario Lake, the city started to attract its first settlers 11,000 ago. The first contacts of the native people with the Europeans date back to the 17th century.      

Toronto is presently a melting pot for different ethnicities and cultures, which can be best be represented by its internationally flavoured streets, divided according the various nationalities such as: the Italian neighbourhood in College Street West; the Greek neighbourhood - the Danford; the Chinese neighbourhood in Spadina, the Indian neighbourhood at Jerard Street East; the Portugese neighbourhood and more.      

Undoubtedly the most impressive attraction in Toronto, and in Ontario as well, is the CN Tower. It is the most emblematic construction in the city. The CN Tower was constructed in 1976, and it was the highest freestanding building in the world until 2007 with its remarkable height of  553.33 metres. The Tower is actually a television tower, offering a magnificent birdseye view over the bustling streets of the city from its terraces, which are open to the public.      

The longest street in the world, Yonge Street is also located in Toronto, starting from the shores of the Ontario Lake, and dividing the city into east and western parts, finally reaching the Rainy River. Queen Street West, or the street of art, and the Distillery District is where the greater concentration of historical landmarks of the city is located.
    

No trip to Canada will be complete without visiting one of the most outstanding world-famous attractions: namely, Niagara Falls. Situated right at the border between New York State and Canada, the Falls were formed 12,000 years ago due to the melting of the glaciers that also formed the North American Great Lakes. Niagara Falls is not impressively high fall but is wide, and the largest within the continent of North America. The falling waters have carved a deep basin, and the gorge itself widens by 30 centimetres ever year.      

Apart form being an incredible tourist destination, the Falls are a precious resource for hydroelectric energy and a challenging environmental conservation project. The waters set in motion powerful hydroelectric turbines, generating electricity, which maintains the electricity needs in the southern part of Ontario and the west areas of the state of New York.     

The best way to encounter the stunning beauty of Niagara Falls is to board one of the touring ships. You can even get right to the edge of the Horseshoe Falls (one of the three falls). You can also enjoy the foaming waters of the Falls by walking, following the meandering paths of the neighbouring parks.      

Toronto City Hall is another eloquent emblem of the city of Toronto. The remarkable structure symbolizes the dynamic history of the city and its prosperous development through the years. The exterior design is modernistic and eccentric. The building opened its doors in 1965 as an architectural provocation - nobody had ever seen something like it before. The edifice is constructed of two towers: East Tower, with 27 floors, and West Tower, with 20. City Hall is where the headquarters of the municipal government is located   

CN Tower

Niagara Falls

Toronto City Hall

Parliament Hill

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Sandbanks Provincial Park

Scarborough Bluffs

National War Memorial (Canada)

Prince Edward Viaduct

Brookfield Place

Casa Loma