Iconic landscapes define the Canadian province of Ontario. Niagara Falls tumbles beside the border with the United States, Toronto's skyline of spherical towers, and the snow-laden enormity of the north. This large province is the most populous in Canada, home to the country's largest city and its capital, Toronto and Ottawa. It is also where wild polar bears roam, and the world's biggest freshwater lake stretches far beyond the imagination. Ontario is bordered by the province of Quebec to the east and the United States to the south, with Hudson Bay and James Bay to the north and west.
The vast majority of Ontario's population lives in the four small regions of Southern Ontario. To the north is vast hinterland, where deer explore endless kilometres of wilderness, and snow dominates lush forests for half the year. Capital city Ottawa is located in Eastern Ontario, a region that's sprinkled with lakes and historic towns. Butting up against Quebec, Eastern Ontario has an atmosphere of a bucolic backwater, even in the streets of the capital.
Central Ontario is also known as “Cottage Country” although both names are slightly deceptive. Geographically it's very much in the south, bordering the United States and atmospherically it's more about farmland sprinkled with charming villages. This region borders the Golden Horseshoe, Canada's wealthiest region. Home to the vibrant city of Toronto and the tourist magnet that is Niagara Falls, the Golden Horseshoe celebrates the diversity of Ontario. Spend a morning in a world-class museum, an afternoon amongst insatiable nature, then an evening at one of the country's finest restaurants. Southwestern Ontario is mostly made up of rolling farmland.
Lester B. Pearson International Airport is the largest in Ontario and is situated within metropolitan Toronto. Ottawa also has an airport for international flights. Local airlines provide aerial connections to towns across this huge province, including Hamilton, Kingston and Thunder Bay in the far north. Many visitors choose to hire a car to get around. An extensive intercity bus network runs up and down the province, but there are only limited options by rail.
Ontario is a province that redefines scale. Lake Superior is the world's largest lake, Manitoulin Island is the world's largest lake island, while the dramatic mountains near Thunder Bay are known as the “Sleeping Giant” as they create a mosaic of a human figure.