Ontario

Ontario is the southernmost province of Canada. It is located in the region of Central Canada. As the country's most populous province, it holds a massive share of the population. According to the 2021 Canadian census, over 14 million people live there. This represents 38.5% of the entire Canadian population.

Ontario is the second-largest province by total area. Only Quebec is larger in size. It is also the fourth-largest jurisdiction among all Canadian provinces and territories. The province contains Canada's capital, Ottawa. It also contains Toronto, which is the most populous city and the provincial capital.

The province's borders connect it to many different neighbors. To the west, Ontario meets the province of Manitoba. To the north, it borders Hudson Bay and James Bay. Quebec borders Ontario to the east and northeast. To the south, it shares a border with several United States states. These include Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Most of this southern border follows water. It follows the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River drainage system. There is only a small land border. This land border includes portages like the Height of Land Portage.

The geography of Ontario is divided into very different regions. The Canadian Shield dominates the northwestern and central portions. This area covers more than half of the province's total land area.

The Shield is thinly populated and mostly does not support agriculture. However, it is rich in minerals and covered by forests. It is also filled with many lakes and rivers. Northern Ontario is split into Northwestern and Northeastern sub-regions. The extreme north contains the Hudson Bay Lowlands. These areas are mainly swampy and have sparse forests.

Southern Ontario is very different from the north. It is divided into four sub-regions. These are Central Ontario, Eastern Ontario, the Golden Horseshoe, and Southwestern Ontario. Most of the population and most arable land are located here. Arable land is land that is good for farming. While agriculture is a big industry, the economy relies heavily on manufacturing.

The south features the temperate Great Lakes-Saint Lawrence Valley. This area is part of the Eastern Great Lakes lowland forests ecoregion. Much of the original forest has been replaced by cities and farms. One famous feature here is Niagara Falls. This falls is part of the Niagara Escarpment.

The climate in Ontario changes based on your location. Three main air sources affect the weather. Cold, dry arctic air comes from the north. Pacific polar air comes from the western Canadian Prairies. Warm, moist air comes from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

Most of Ontario has a humid continental climate. In the south, the Great Lakes influence the weather. The lakes release stored heat during the fall and winter. This makes winters milder near the shores. However, the lakes can also cause lake-effect snow. This happens when cold winds blow over the water.

This can cause heavy snow squalls along the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Huron.

Northern Ontario has a subarctic climate. This region is north of 50°N. It has long, very cold winters. The summers are short and can be cool or warm. Temperatures can change dramatically in all seasons. Snow often stays on the ground for over half the year. In the south, the weather can be more extreme in other ways. Windsor has the most lightning strikes in Canada. The province also sees an average of 11 confirmed tornado touchdowns every year. In 2006 and 2009, Ontario hit a record of 29 tornadoes.

Ontario has a long and deep history. Paleo-Indians were the first people to settle the land about 11,000 years ago. They arrived after crossing the Bering land bridge. Later, many groups lived here, such as the Algonquian and Iroquoian. During the Woodland period, people began cultivating corn, beans, and squash. In the 1600s, French explorers arrived. They called the region the Pays d'en Haut, or "Upper Country."

This name referred to being upstream from the Saint Lawrence River. The name "Ontario" likely has Indigenous origins. It might mean "great lake" or "beautiful water." The name became official in 1867 at Confederation. Today, Ontario remains a vital hub for industry and transport. The Saint Lawrence Seaway connects the Atlantic Ocean to the interior.