Landforms in Toronto | USA Today Landforms in Toronto Toronto is on the north shore of Lake Ontario. (Photo: Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images ) "Information on Landforms in Quebec, Canada" Toronto is in southern Ontario Province, Canada, on the northern shore of Lake Ontario. The city center is 35 miles east of the Niagara Escarpment, an eroded cliff face of exposed lake sediments that passes through suburbs on the western edge of the Greater Toronto Area. Ice Age glaciers shaped the landforms in Toronto, as glacial advance scraped rock from the land and glacial retreat deposited the scraped debris along with meltwater. Lakeshore Modern Lake Ontario is within the bed of ancient Lake Iroquois, a meltwater lake that rose while Ice Age glaciers blocked the outlet of the Saint Lawrence River to the sea. The stranded shoreline of the Lake Iroquois bluff is known locally in Toronto as tablelands. Today Lake Ontario's shoreline landform varies considerably over the length of metropolitan Toronto, but is predominantly shale bedrock overlain by stream deposits of sand, mud and clay, or glacial boulders, cobble and gravel.

Oak Ridges Moraine Seventeen miles north of the lakeshore, the hills and valleys of the Oak Ridges Moraine rise 820 feet above lake level and feed the aquifer that provides water for 200,000 people within Toronto. The moraine's spongy wetlands of sand, rock and gravel were deposited 12,000 years ago between two lobes of the retreating Wisconsin Glaciation, and are now the headlands of 65 streams, of which 35 pass through the Greater Toronto Area. The moraine originates at the Niagara Escarpment and extends eastward 100 miles, with a width of 12 miles. Oak Ridges is 30 percent forested, as well as containing lakes and bogs, and rests above previously deposited glacial till. Rouge River Valley Five creeks and many smaller streams that originate in Oak Ridge Moraine converge to form the Rouge River that flows through Toronto parkland. At Finch Meander, just north of Toronto Zoo, the walls of the Rouge River Valley are 120-foot cliffs of sand, silt and clay.

The Rouge is joined by the Little Rouge River within the city and slows as it continues over the level clay plain that was once the shallows of Lake Iroquois. As the river joins Lake Ontario, its waters are murky with clay that drops into fertile wetlands before the river cuts through an offshore sandbar to enter the lake. Hogback South of Toronto Zoo and between the Rouge and Little Rouge Rivers, the Hogback tableland is an interfluvial, or between streams, ridge of preserved recreation land among a 400-acre forest, the largest surviving in the Toronto metro area. The Province of Ontario acquired 1,000 acres of the Hogback in the 1970s, and the land is open for hiking along many trails in the nature preserve. References Lake Superior’s north shore | Ontario Guide | Rough Guides Lake Superior’s north shore Share North America » Canada » Ontario » Lake Superior’s north shore More like an inland sea than a lake, the steely waters of Lake Superior comprise the largest freshwater lake in the world – and one of the wildest.

Its northern shore between Sault Ste Marie and Thunder Bay is a windswept, rugged region formed by volcanoes, earthquakes and glaciers, its steep, forested valleys often overhung by a canopy of grey sky. In 1872 Reverend George Grant wrote of Superior: “It breeds storms and rain and fog… It is cold… wild, masterful and dreaded.” The indigenous Ojibwa lived in fear of the storms that would suddenly break on the lake they knew as Gitche Gumee, the Big-Sea-Water, and white sailors were inordinately suspicious of a lake whose icy waters caused its victims to sink like stones: Lake Superior never gives up its dead. For the most part, Hwy-17 sticks close to the north shore of Lake Superior between Sault Ste Marie and Thunder Bay, but a screen of trees almost always keeps the lake out of view. This stretch of road is 690km long, so unless you’re up for a gruelling thrash, it’s much better to dawdle and dally.

Along the way are two magnificent parks, Lake Superior Provincial Park and Pukaskwa National Park, where there’s camping and hiking – though the insects can be unbearable from May to August, sometimes longer. The small towns dotted along the highway mostly fail to inspire, but low-key Wawa, about a third of the way along, has several good places to stay, while diminutive Rossport, a further 300km west, is easily the prettiest settlement hereabouts. Greyhound buses regularly travel Hwy-17 between Toronto and Thunder Bay en route to Winnipeg, but don’t expect them to drop you exactly where you want: if you are aiming for a specific motel or campsite, check how far you’ll have to walk. Find out more Places to Visit in Toronto | Where to go in Toronto | Rough Guides North America » Canada » Toronto Toronto sprawls along the northern shore of Lake Ontario, its pulsating centre encased by a jangle of satellite townships and industrial zones which cover – as the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) – no less than one hundred square kilometres.

In recent decades, successive city administrations and a raft of wealthy benefactors have lavished millions of dollars on glitzy architecture, slick museums, an excellent public transport system and the reclamation and development of the lakefront. As a result, few would argue that GTA has become the cultural and economic focus of English-speaking Canada, and its five and a million inhabitants share what must surely be one of North America’s most likeable, liveable cities. The city has its share of attention-grabbing places to visit and the majority are conveniently clustered in the centre – either Downtown or Uptown. The most celebrated of them is the CN Tower (until 2010 the world’s tallest freestanding structure), which stands next to the modern hump of the SkyDome stadium, now the Rogers Centre. The city’s other prestige attractions kick off with the Art Gallery of Ontario , which possesses a first-rate selection of Canadian painting, and the Royal Ontario Museum , where pride of place goes to the Chinese and First Peoples collections. Yet it’s the pick of Toronto’s smaller galleries that really add to the city’s charm.

There are a superb collection of ceramics at the Gardiner Museum , a fascinating range of footwear at the Bata Shoe Museum and the small but eclectic Gallery of Inuit Art . You’ll find absorbing period homes too, most memorably the mock-Gothic extravagances of Casa Loma and the Victorian gentility of Spadina House , as well as the replica colonial fortress of Fort York , where Toronto began. Spare some time also for the good-looking buildings of the lively St Lawrence neighbourhood and the Distillery District , the city’s brightest arts complex, sited in a capacious former distillery. Indeed, there is an outstanding programme of performing arts, from dance to theatre and beyond, as well as exciting festivals, a vibrant club scene and literally hundreds of cafés and restaurants. Toronto’s sights illustrate different facets of the city, but in no way do they crystallize its identity. The city remains opaque, too big and diverse to allow for a defining personality and this adds an enticing air of excitement and unpredictability to the place.

Neither is its layout predictable: Toronto may have evolved from a lakeside settlement, but its growth has been sporadic and mostly unplanned, resulting in a cityscape that can seem a particularly random mix of the old and the new. This apparent disarray, when combined with the city’s muggy summers, means most visitors spend their time hopping from sight to sight on the transit lines rather than walking. Yet, if you’ve the time and determination to get under the skin of the city, take to your feet and Toronto will slowly reveal itself. Brief history Situated on the slab of land separating Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay, Toronto was on one of the early portage routes into the interior, its name taken from the Huron for “place of meeting”. The first European to visit the district was the French explorer Étienne Brûlé in 1615, but it wasn’t until the middle of the eighteenth century that the French made a serious effort to control Lake Ontario with the development of a simple settlement and stockade, Fort Rouillé.

The British pushed the French from the northern shore of Lake Ontario in 1759, but then chose to ignore the site for almost forty years until the arrival of hundreds of United Empire Loyalists in the aftermath of the American Revolution. In 1791 the British divided their remaining American territories into two, Upper and Lower Canada. The first capital of Upper Canada was Niagara-on-the-Lake, but this was too near the American border for comfort and the province’s new lieutenant-governor, John Graves Simcoe, moved his administration to the relative safety of Toronto in 1793, calling the new settlement York. Simcoe had grand classical visions of colonial settlement, but was exasperated by the conditions of frontier life, noting “the city’s site was better calculated for a frog pond … than for the residence of human beings”. Nicknamed “Muddy York”, the capital was little more than a village when, in 1812, the Americans attacked and burnt its main buildings. The Family Compact – and William Lyon Mackenzie In the early nineteenth century, effective economic and political power lay in the hands of an anglophile oligarchy christened the Family Compact by the radical polemicists of the day.

The Compact’s most vociferous opponent was a radical Scot, William Lyon Mackenzie, who promulgated his views both in his newspaper, the Colonial Advocate, and as a member of the legislative assembly. Mackenzie became the first mayor of Toronto, as the town was renamed in 1834, but the radicals were defeated in the elections two years later and a frustrated Mackenzie drifted towards the idea of armed revolt. In 1837, he staged a poorly organized insurrection, during which a few hundred farmers marched down the main drag, Yonge Street, fought a couple of half-hearted skirmishes and then melted away. Mackenzie fled across the border and two of the other ringleaders were executed, but the British parliament, mindful of similar events that led to the American Revolution, moved to liberalize Upper Canada’s administration instead of taking reprisals. In 1841, they granted Canada responsible government, reuniting the two provinces in a loose confederation, prefiguring the final union of 1867 when Upper Canada was redesignated Ontario.

Toronto the Good By the end of the nineteenth century, Toronto had become a major manufacturing centre dominated by a conservative mercantile elite, which was exceedingly loyal to the British interest and maintained a strong Protestant tradition. This elite was sustained by the working-class Orange Lodges, whose reactionary influence was a key feature of municipal politics, prompting a visiting Charles Dickens to complain about the city’s “rabid Toryism”. Other commentators were equally critical, referring to Toronto at one time or another as “Hogtown” and – with more than a slice of irony – “Toronto the Good”. Nevertheless, these same Protestants were enthusiastic about public education, just like the Methodist-leaning middle classes, who spearheaded social reform movements, principally suffrage and temperance. The trappings, however, remained far from alluring – well into the twentieth century Sunday was preserved as a “day of rest” and Eaton’s department store drew its curtains to prevent Sabbath window-shopping. Indeed, for all its capital status, the city was strikingly provincial by comparison with Montréal until well into the 1950s, when the opening of the St Lawrence Seaway gave the place something of a jolt and the first wave of non-white immigrants began to transform the city’s complexion.

Indeed, Toronto today is perhaps one of the world’s most diverse cities – more than 130 languages and dialects crowd the airstream here, and half of Toronto’s residents were born outside Canada. Modern Toronto In the 1960s, the economy exploded, and the city’s appearance was transformed by the construction of a series of mighty, modernistic skyscrapers. This helter-skelter development was further boosted by the troubles in Québec, where the clamour for fair treatment by the francophones prompted many of Montréal’s anglophone-dominated financial institutions and big businesses to transfer to Toronto. Since then, Toronto’s economy has followed the cycles of boom and retrenchment common to the rest of the country, but politically Ontario took a turn to the right in the mid-1990s with the election of the Progressive Conservatives led by Mike Harris. Nothing if not hard-nosed, Harris pushed through a major governmental reorganization, combining the city of Toronto with its surrounding suburbs to create the “Mega City” of today. The change was deeply unpopular in Toronto itself, but Harris still managed to get himself re-elected in 2000 with the large-scale support of small-town and suburban Ontario.

In 2003, Ontario returned to the political centre, ejecting the Progressive Conservatives in favour of the Liberals, heralding a move towards more moderate, consensual politics. When Independent Rob Ford was elected in 2010, that ideal flew out the window. While he ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility, he was soon caught up in a conflict of interest scandal, and others concerning his use of alcohol and drugs. The controversies reached a climax in an internet video in which, visibly high, he admitted to smoking crack cocaine. He initially refused to step down, but a stint in rehab and a tumour diagnosis forced him to pull out, and things have been a bit more stable since, with the election of John Tory in 2014 and the successful hosting of the Pan American Games in summer 2015. Toronto Toronto | Ontario, Canada | Britannica.com Toronto Ontario Toronto, city, capital of the province of Ontario , southeastern Canada . It has the most populous metropolitan area in Canada and, as the most important city in Canada’s most prosperous province, is the country’s financial and commercial centre.

Its location on the northern shore of Lake Ontario , which forms part of the border between Canada and the United States , and its access to Atlantic shipping via the St. Lawrence Seaway and to major U.S. industrial centres via the Great Lakes has enabled Toronto to become an important international trading centre. Since the second half of the 20th century the city has grown phenomenally, from a rather sedate provincial town—“Toronto the Good”—to a lively, thriving, cosmopolitan metropolitan area. In 1998 Toronto amalgamated with East York , Etobicoke , North York , Scarborough , and York to form the City of Toronto. Area city, 244 square miles (632 square km); metropolitan area, 2,266 square miles (5,868 square km). Pop. (2006) city, 2,503,281; metropolitan area, 5,113,149. Toronto, Can. Ice skaters at a park, Toronto.

Lowell Georgia/Corbis Landscape The city site The site of the city is almost uniformly flat, although 3 to 4 miles (5 to 6 km) inland there is a fairly sharp rise of some 40 feet (12 metres)—the shoreline elevation of the former glacial Lake Iroquois. Streets are laid out in a grid, although the pattern is modified to some extent by diagonal roads roughly following the shoreline. The central business areas are located around Bloor and Yonge streets and Yonge and Queen streets. The central financial district, with its numerous insurance and banking offices and the Toronto Stock Exchange, is in the vicinity of King and Bay streets, south of the old City Hall (1899). Skyline of Toronto. Calgary The city skyline is dominated by the CN Tower (a communications and observation spire 1,815 feet [553 metres] high), as well as by the First Canadian Place (Bank of Montreal) , Scotia Plaza, Canada Trust Tower, Manulife Centre, Commerce Court, Toronto-Dominion Centre, and Bay Adelaide Centre, each of which is more than 50 stories high.

Other prominent buildings include City Hall (1965), Eaton Centre (a large indoor shopping complex), the gilded Royal Bank Plaza, the Toronto Reference Library, the Ontario Science Centre , the Royal Ontario Museum’s crystal-shaped facade, and Roy Thomson Hall, noted for its excellent acoustics. The city also features an extensive system of underground tunnels and concourses lined with shops, restaurants, and theatres. Through the construction of new housing and mixed-use projects, together with the restoration and rehabilitation of heritage buildings, an extraordinary vitality has been brought to the urban core. CN Tower, Toronto, viewed from … © 2005 Index Open Ontario (province, Canada): The city’s lakefront is separated from the downtown area by railway tracks, an expressway, and increasing residential development. Ferry service connects the dock area to the Toronto Islands, about half a mile offshore, which have yacht clubs, a small airport, recreational facilities, and a residential community . North of the central business district is the fashionable Yorkville-Cumberland boutique shopping area, to the south of which are Queen’s Park, the Ontario Parliament Buildings, and the University of Toronto .

Large expanses of grass and tall shade trees make this a pleasant area, complementing the ravines that form so important an element in the metropolitan parks system. One of the most attractive residential areas in Toronto is Rosedale, an older neighbourhood of dignified houses and winding, tree-lined streets quite close to the downtown centre, which itself contains many attractive streets of modest, well-designed houses. Climate Toronto’s geographic situation on Lake Ontario modifies the climate somewhat, although winter temperatures may frequently drop below 0 °F (−18 °C). Heavy snowfall, however, is rare even in January and February, the coldest months. July and August are humid, with temperatures often rising above 90 °F (32 °C). People Exploring Canada: Fact or Fiction? The city’s population was traditionally Protestant and largely of British origin, but during part of the 1950s and ’60s Toronto became one of the fastest-growing urban areas in North America , with an influx of European immigrants that transformed the character of the city; by 1961 less than half the inhabitants of the central city were of British extraction.

During the 1970s and early ’80s European immigrants were augmented by large numbers from the West Indies and Asia. Economy EU Considers Rules For Robots Industry and trade Toronto enjoys the economic benefits of its position on the Great Lakes and of its development as a rail and trucking centre. It is readily accessible to major industrial centres in the United States and to oceangoing shipping. As the capital of Canada’s richest and most populous province, the city has a widely diversified economy. Ontario produces more than half of Canada’s manufactured goods and most of its manufactured exports; it has immense resources of raw materials—minerals, timber, water, agricultural products, and hydroelectric power. The Toronto Stock Exchange is, in value of trading, one of the largest stock exchanges in North America. Tourism is also important to the city’s economy. Transportation Policy for public transportation is coordinated by the Metropolitan Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). In addition to an extensive bus network and streetcar routes, the modern, efficient mass transit system has three subway lines and a rapid line. A series of provincial highways serve as arteries for the city’s commuters.

Located 17 miles (27 km) west of the centre of the city in Mississauga is Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada’s busiest air terminal. Administration and social conditions Before being amalgamated in 1998 into the City of Toronto, a single administrative unit, the former Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto comprised a number of large municipalities that were governed by the Metropolitan Council. The mayor and City Council (representing more than 40 wards) now govern the city. There are also four community councils (for Etobicoke York, North York, Scarborough, and Toronto and East York), which consider planning and local matters for their area of the city. City Hall, Toronto. Paul Thompson—Eye Ubiquitous/Corbis Cultural life The city is an important cultural centre. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra and other musical groups have an international reputation. There are three major theatres, together with many small experimental theatres. The Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum have excellent collections, and there are numerous privately owned galleries. Other attractions include the Ontario Science Centre, with its imaginative working exhibits, and Ontario Place, a large complex of recreational facilities on man-made islands that are an extension to the permanent Canadian National Exhibition .

At the beginning of the 21st century, an area of historic Victorian industrial buildings, the Distillery District, was restored and became a popular cultural and entertainment destination with a wide variety of galleries, cafés, theatres, shops, and artists’ studios. Among the annual highlights of the city’s cultural activities are the Luminato and Nuit Blanche arts festivals and the Toronto International Film Festival . Ice-skaters in Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto. Jon Arnold Images/SuperStock Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest The city has several institutions of higher learning—the University of Toronto (1827), with branches at Mississauga (Erindale College) and Scarborough; York University (1959), with Glendon College; and Ryerson Polytechnic University (1948). The Ontario College of Art & Design offers a wide diversity of excellent programs. Also adding to the colour and vitality of the city are the zoo (opened in 1974); dozens of excellent restaurants, boutiques, and movie theatres; and major sports teams.

The Toronto Maple Leafs (ice hockey) and the Raptors (basketball) play at the Air Canada Centre (1999), while the modern Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome) stadium (1989), a multipurpose complex, houses both the Argonauts (Canadian football) and the Blue Jays (baseball). There is an active winter season of cultural activities, with a rich fare of concerts, theatre, opera, ballet, and films. Lectures, seminars, evening classes, and meetings of all kinds cover a multitude of subjects, and the religious life of the community is sustained by a variety of churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other meeting places. Many ethnic groups organize traditional festivals, balls, entertainments, and social activities. In 1967 the Metropolitan Toronto Corporation assumed responsibility for the Canadian National Exhibition —reputed to be the world’s largest annual exhibition—which was first launched in 1879 as the Toronto Industrial Exhibition. An international air show; agricultural, animal, and flower displays; theatrical and musical events; and a fairground attract millions of visitors in the late summer each year. The permanent buildings are used for trade shows and other special events between seasons.

The area has two seasonal amusement parks: the provincially owned Ontario Place (1971) and the privately owned Canada’s Wonderland (1981). Britannica Lists & Quizzes Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies Toronto Parks and Recreation administers approximately 20,000 acres (8,000 hectares) of parkland, and ambitious plans have been made for the development of Toronto’s waterfront. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority is an important joint provincial-municipal agency concerned with the development of recreational areas, flood control, and the conservation of existing woodlands and waterways. It is responsible for the implementation of a large part of Toronto’s regional waterfront-development plan. The authority also offers assistance and technical advice to rural landowners. Toronto is the main regional tourist centre serving the Muskoka Lakes , the Haliburton Highlands, and Georgian Bay , all magnificent lakeland and forest areas with fine hunting, fishing, and camping facilities. There has been a remarkable increase in winter sports, and, although Ontario’s highest point is only 2,183 feet (665 metres), good skiing facilities are available within easy reach of the city.

Algonquin Provincial Park is some 130 miles (210 km) to the north, Niagara Falls is about 50 miles (80 km) south, and the city is surrounded by beautiful rolling farmland, with well-marked sites of historical and architectural interest. Camping, cottaging, boating, and fishing in summer and skiing, ice hockey , and curling in winter are the most popular forms of outdoor recreation. History Early settlement The first known settlements in the Toronto area, Teiaiagon and Ganatsekwyagon, were inhabited by Seneca and later Mississauga Native American peoples. Teiaiagon was located on the east bank of the Humber River . Ganatsekwyagon was located near the mouth of the Rouge River. In the 17th century Teiaiagon became a trading post, strategically situated at the crossing of ancient Indian trails going west to the Mississippi River and north to Lake Simcoe and beyond into vast wilderness areas. These land and water routes were followed by explorers, fur traders, missionaries, and others intent upon opening up and exploiting the resources of the Great Lakes region.

After Teiaiagon was abandoned in the late 17th century, French fur traders set up in its place a small store, Magasin Royal, that operated from 1720 to 1730. Trending Topics Lady Flora Hastings By the mid-18th century the name Toronto had come to be commonly used for one of three tiny forts built (1720–50) in the area by the French to defend their trade with the Indians against English and other European competitors. The French were defeated in 1759 and the forts were subsequently destroyed, but the settlement survived as a trading post. At the end of the Seven Years’ War with France (1763), Canada came under British sovereignty; during and after the American Revolution it was a haven for those American colonists who preferred British rule to that of the new republic. Some 40,000 loyalists are said to have settled in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence areas at this time, and during the 19th century large numbers of immigrants came from Great Britain.

In 1787 Sir Guy Carleton (later 1st Baron Dorchester ), governor of Quebec , opened negotiations with three Native American chiefs for the purchase of a site for the future capital of Ontario. About 250,000 acres (100,000 hectares) fronting the lake were acquired in exchange for £1,700, bales of cloth, axes, and other trading goods. Ontario’s first parliament met in 1792 at Niagara , but in 1793 Colonel John Graves Simcoe , lieutenant governor of Upper Canada, selected the present site of Toronto for his capital because of its fine harbour, its strategic location for defense and trade, and the rich potential of its wilderness hinterland. He changed its name from Toronto to York ; two years later (1795) Ontario’s capital consisted of only 12 cottages and a small military establishment on the edge of the wilderness. While the British were engaged with France in Europe, the United States declared war on Britain . York, with a population of 700, was practically defenseless. It was taken in April 1813 and was pillaged and occupied by U.S.

forces for 11 days before being retaken by the British. The Speaker’s Mace was carried off but was returned in 1934; the Royal Standard is still in the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. Economic depression in Great Britain following the Napoleonic Wars drove many overseas, and York’s population increased from 720 in 1816 to about 9,000 in 1834, when the city was incorporated and the old name of Toronto restored. In 1849 there was a disastrous fire that destroyed some 15 acres (6 hectares) of the downtown area, including St. James’ Cathedral, St. Lawrence Market, and many offices, stores, and warehouses, but the city soon recovered. Evolution of the modern city Rapid development followed the coming of the Grand Trunk and Great Western railways in the 1850s, and for a decade prosperity was enhanced by a treaty with the United States (1854) that gave certain products of Canada free entry to markets south of the border. The timber resources of the province were exploited, and large areas of land were converted to farming.

Thus, Toronto grew rapidly as an industrial, trading, and distributing centre; its population was 45,000 in 1861, 208,000 in 1901, and 522,000 in 1921. Map of Toronto (c. 1900), from the 10th edition of Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Prosperity and security were reflected in civic improvement, great building activity, and cultural progress. Between the city’s incorporation (1834) and Canada’s national confederation under the British North America Act of 1867, many of Toronto’s buildings of historical and architectural importance were constructed, including the new St. James’ Cathedral, St. Lawrence Hall, and University College (now part of the University of Toronto), all of which are still extant . The Grand Opera House (since demolished) was opened in 1874, a stolid successor to the numerous small theatres of midcentury that were mostly converted barns.

King’s College (founded 1827), later to become the University of Toronto , was constructed in 1843 on the site of the present Ontario Parliament Buildings (1886). During the 50 years from 1834 to 1883, the city maintained its boundaries virtually unchanged. Some reclamation near the lake improved lakeshore properties and docking facilities. Largely by the annexation of adjacent villages and towns, the area of the city doubled by 1900 and doubled again by 1920. In 1930 the metropolitan area included the central city, four towns (Leaside, Mimico, New Toronto, and Weston), three villages (Forest Hill, Long Branch , and Swansea), and five townships ( Etobicoke , East York , North York , Scarborough , and York ). The Great Depression of the 1930s caused severe financial problems for suburban Toronto. Capital debt payments could not be met, and expenditure on public services—sewage and piped water supply in places remote from the lake, for example—had to be postponed.

A rapid increase in population after World War II added to the municipal burden, and many solutions were investigated. In 1953 the Ontario Municipal Board recommended for the 13 municipalities the establishment of a federated form of government unique in North America. The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto Act was passed, and a 25-member Council of Metropolitan Toronto met for the first time on January 1, 1954. One of the first tasks of the council was to find ways and means of dealing with common major problems by united action, while also permitting local matters to be handled independently. Since the joint credit of the combined municipalities was much greater than the sum of their credits as individual authorities, financing was greatly simplified. A common level of assessment and tax rate on property—the main source of revenue—was agreed upon by each municipality. A most significant feature of the system was that members of the Metropolitan Council were appointed by virtue of their election to office either as mayors, aldermen, or controllers of a particular municipality, thus ensuring a high degree of coordination and good communication between the central body and the local municipalities.

The Metropolitan Council worked well: it resolved many of the difficult sewage and water problems; it greatly improved transportation by constructing expressways and roads, a new airport terminal building (1962), and an excellent subway; it authorized the construction of new schools and the renovation of old ones; and it introduced a regional parks system in an attempt to control future development. In 1967 the Corporation of Metropolitan Toronto was reorganized. The 13 municipalities were reduced to six, and the council was increased to 33 members. Later legislation gave the boroughs the option to rename themselves cities. The council considerably extended its responsibilities in education and the social services, adding, for example, urban renewal, waste disposal, and ambulance and library services. In 1975 and 1980 the council was again increased in size, and it added to its jurisdiction such problems as the control of urban development and housing for the elderly. In 1997 the Ontario legislature voted to combine the six municipalities into a single “megacity,” a change that went into effect on January 1, 1998.

Additional Media To and From Toronto, Ontario on TransCanadaHighway.com Home > Ontario's Trans-Canada Highway > To and From Toronto, Ontario on TransCanadaHighway.com On our website, we get countless emails from people in the Toronto area who ask us about the Trans-Canada Highway, mis-guidedly assuming the Trans-Canada goes through Toronto. This mistaken impression was further fed by an inaccurate 1989 National Geographic book on the topic which included a photo of the CN Tower in its Ontario chapter, though it is not visible from any point along the highway (and vice-versa). For them, we provide this backgrounder for Southern Ontarians. Trans-Canada routes through Ontario The Trans-Canada in Ontario follows three routes: Northern Route The Northern Route which moves along #17/11from Thunder Bay to Nipigon and and then takes the #11 in an arching route northwards through the province's mining communities including Kapuskasing, Cochrane, Kirkland Lake, and Cobalt. In Ontario, this route returns to the southern part of the province at North Bay (and continues to Toronto (where Highway 11 becomes Yonge Street), though not as part of the Trans-Canada.

In Quebec, the highway continues eastward from Kirkland Lake, ON as #117 through the mining communities communities of Noranda and Val d'Or before moving south to Montreal . Central Route The Central Route, described earlier, traverses along the #17 from Thunder Bay to Sault Ste Marie and following the voyageur route through Sudbury , North Bay , and Mattawa where the highway bends southeast along the Ottawa River (as the highway becomes #417) through Ottawa down to Montreal . Southern Route The Southern Route curves south from Sudbury along Highway 69 along the eastern shore of Georgian Bay through Parry Sound to Orillia. The rooute then switches to Highway 12 along the Trent-Severn Waterway to Peterborough , and bends eastward along the #7 toward Ottawa , where it rejoins the main Trans-Canada route, continuing eastward toward Montreal . The closest the Southern route gets to Toronto is 88 kilometres, where the point southeast of Lake Simcoe is closest to Toronto's eastern boundary, via Oshawa. Interestingly, Highway 7 is also an excellent alternative route between Toronto and Ottawa, with similar driving time.

Heading West/North If you are heading west, toward the Rockies and Vancouver, you will need to get from Toronto to Sudbury, where you can connect to the main Trans-Canada route. From Toronto you take Highway 400 north to Barrie and Orillia (here the #11 continues north to North Bay and beyond) and continues north to Parry Sound to Sudbury . The highway passes through York Region , past Kleinberg (home to the McMichael collection fo Group of Seven paintings) and Bradford (with the Holland Marsh), up to Barrie up to "cottage country". Just to the west of this route are Collingwood , Penetanguishene , and Midland . To the east of the highway is Orillia, Along the way the 4 lane divided highway reverts to the original 2-lane (undivided) highway which is designated Highway 69. Highway 69 is being upgraded into a 4-lane divided highway to make it easier for Torontonians and truckers to connect to the rest of the country. The Ontario government is twinning the northern stretches and has now proceeded as far north as the Parry Sound area.

As the highway stretches are upgraded they become re-designated as part of Highway 400. Bruce Peninsula - Manitoulin Island Detour If you want to take a more leisurely route, you can head west from Barrie along route 26 along the southern shore of Georgian Bay, past Wasaga Beach and Owen Sound , and then Route 6 up the Bruce Peninsula, catching the Chi-Cheemaun ferry from Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island . Manitoulin Island is not only the largest island in a freshwater lake in the world, but it also has the largest lake on an island inside a lake in the world, too! From South Baymouth, you head north to Espanola (66 km west of Sudbury) to connect to the Trans-Canada. This detour is also the one recommended by the Canadian Cycling Association for those bicycling across the country in order to bypass the route favoured by truckers.

Muskokas - Highway 11 Detour Another scenic route is north-east of Barrie through Orillia on the Trent-SevernCanal.htm">Trent-Severn Canal , and then north n Highway 11 (and extension of Toronto's Yonge Street!) though the Muskoka towns of Gravenhurst , Bracebridge , and Hunstsville . This area is blessed with beautiful lakes, and in Fall it has tons of colourful foliage, and you continue up to North Bay , where you can take the rest of the Trans-Canada east or west. Toronto Detour Map & Itineraries Cheap Flights to Toronto, Canada - Search Deals on Airfare to Toronto from Cheapflights.com Cheap flights to Toronto, Canada See all USA departure airports for flights to Toronto Best Time to Fly to Toronto The best time to visit Toronto is from June to early October. During this time there are numerous festivals and events taking place. In July and August the city can be muggy and humid. Autumn is a nice time to visit when temperatures are mild and the sun is still shining. Although winters are cold, the city is still active playing host to numerous holiday festivities and cheap flights to Toronto are easier to come by.

Overview Toronto, Canada's largest city, is clean, hip and very diverse. It hugs the shore of Lake Ontario, providing a scenic backdrop to the modern downtown area. The soaring CN Tower is an eye-catching landmark and you’ll surely want to take the glass elevator to the top of this 1,640-foot tall wonder for a spectacular view of the city and lake. The most populous city of Canada has a bold mix of culture, architectural diversity and nightlife. It hums with the excitement of a modern cosmopolitan center, yet its history dates to the late 1700s. Head downtown to explore the financial district’s modern architecture. While there, do not miss the PATH, a unique underground shopping area consisting of more than 1,200 businesses. From sporting events to world-class theater to diverse cuisine, Toronto offers it all. You could spend days visiting the city’s museums (the Art Gallery of Ontario houses a magnificent collection of art, while the Royal Ontario Museum exhibits cultural and natural history from around the globe). Toronto even has its own castle, Casa Loma, and quaint Victorian neighborhoods that invite you to stroll their quiet streets, while the many parks provide relaxation after a busy day.

Toronto climate Toronto has a moderate climate as one of the southernmost cities in Canada with the warmest springs and summers in the nation (60 to 78 F). The winter months (December to February) are chilly with temperatures from 19 to 44 F. Best Time to Fly to Toronto The best time to visit Toronto is from June to early October. During this time there are numerous festivals and events taking place. In July and August the city can be muggy and humid. Autumn is a nice time to visit when temperatures are mild and the sun is still shining. Although winters are cold, the city is still active playing host to numerous holiday festivities and cheap flights to Toronto are easier to come by. Getting around Toronto Toronto’s public transport consists of a connected network of subways, buses and streetcars that offer safe, efficient and reliable transport. With all of those options, you can get anywhere in the city. The subway has four lines and buses and streetcars can be boarded at every major subway stop. After 1:30am the Blue Night Network services the main streets and the Request Stop Program allows people to get off the bus anywhere between stops.

Cabs are easy to find and you can take ferries to the Toronto Islands. While renting a car is an option, keep in mind that there is a lot of traffic and parking is expensive. Toronto Travel Information One of the top film festivals in the world - the Toronto International Film Festival – is held in September throughout 23 venues in downtown Toronto. Up to 400 films are screened. Visit the CN Tower, one of the highest freestanding structure in the world. Walk along its glass floor or book a table in its revolving restaurant and look out hundreds of miles. If you are feeling really adventurous, the CN Tower offers an outdoor edge walk. Travel along Yonge Street, which stretches almost 1,242 miles from the heart of the shopping district to the University of Toronto. Try the InfoToGo visitor system that makes getting around Toronto extremely easy. With more than 20 sites at various points around the city, you’ll find maps specifically designed for each area including historical locations and public transportation stops. Yes, castles do exist in North America. Casa Loma is Canada’s most famous with 98 rooms and is set on five acres of manicured estate gardens that are in full bloom from May through October.

The "Biggest Underground Shopping Complex" according to the Guinness World Record is Toronto's underground city, PATH. The "city" has more than 17 miles of indoor pedestrian walkways linking hotels, shopping, dining and major attractions all underground. Newsletters More useful information about Toronto Most one way flights to Toronto land at Pearson International Airport. Don’t miss a visit to the Canadian National Tower which is the highest freestanding structure in the world. Direct flights to Toronto arrive in the fifth largest city in North America. The Toronto International Film Festival begins on the Thursday night after Labour Day. The city of Toronto is located on the northern shore of Lake Ontario. It only takes about 70 minutes to fly from Toronto to Montreal . Along with being the most populous city, Toronto is the country's largest financial centre. Be sure to spend some time walking down Yonge Street and seeing the sights. Toronto's underground city, PATH, holds the Guinness World Record for "Biggest Underground Shopping Complex". In the off season (winter), cheap last minute flights to Toronto can be found. Other user searches Northern Shore of Lake Superior - Canada Forum - TripAdvisor Northern Shore of Lake Superior - Canada Forum Review a place you’ve visited JOIN Which Canada hotels are on sale?

mm/dd/yyyy mm/dd/yyyy Northern Shore of Lake Superior Aug 28, 2013, 3:57 PM We are traveling from WA to NY and doing the northern route through MT, ND, MN, and are considering crossing into Canada and traveling along the northern shore of Lake Superior. We prefer to travel secondary roads and not the interstate highways and stop in little towns to see what they have to offer. We are in our 70's and do short hikes, museums, and anything else interesting that we find. We would appreciate any suggestions on attractions, suggested routes, and camping facilities. Travelers interested in this topic also viewed... Show Prices 1. Re: Northern Shore of Lake Superior Aug 28, 2013, 4:06 PM The Canada forum collects ALL the posts about Canada in one place, and is not followed regularly. For best information you should post on the Ontario , Thunder Bay, or Sault Ste. Marie forums - all of which cover areas in northern Ontario. Edited: 4:06 pm, August 28, 2013 One destination mentioned in this post 2.

Re: Northern Shore of Lake Superior Aug 28, 2013, 4:44 PM Agreed, and I don't know this area, but everyone I've spoken to who has tells me that its mind-numbingly dull. Report inappropriate content 3. Re: Northern Shore of Lake Superior Aug 28, 2013, 5:19 PM If you travel between Thunder ay and Sudbury you will have about 12 hours straight driving of the same ole same old. Land of the silver birch, Canadian Shield (google that) rocks and boulders and Lake Superior that is about as interesting as looking out on the Pacific Ocean. It is that expansive. We don't have interstates here, but your path would take you on the Trans Canada Hwy 1. Not much other choice, as it is too expensive to build highways for a small population. Report inappropriate content 4. Re: Northern Shore of Lake Superior Aug 28, 2013, 10:58 PM Thanks so much for the info. Looks like we'll look at a different route - Really appreciate your comments! Report inappropriate content 5.

Re: Northern Shore of Lake Superior Aug 28, 2013, 11:12 PM "Mind-numbingly dull"....lol... 6. Re: Northern Shore of Lake Superior Aug 29, 2013, 8:10 AM I disagree with the above posters from British Columbia ... and having driven this route between Toronto and Thunder Bay numerous times can say it is not "mind numbingly dull". The drive around the north shore has spectacular vistas over the lake, numerous small towns just off the highway (Rossport, Wawa, Montreal River) and beautiful provincial parks & beaches - the beach at Batchawana Bay is superb. Here is a route you could follow which takes you around the lake and down to the Soo. South of the Soo there are various options - you can head east and south towards North Bay and down through Algonquin Park towards Ottawa, and then south to NY. Algonquin is quintessential Canadian canoeing and hiking country. Or you can travel south from Sudbury along the Georgian Bay shore through cottage country and the 30,000 Islands (boat cruise here is lovely).

Either of these routes takes you through the land that is depicted by the artists known as the Group of Seven. In the fall the foliage is alive with brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. Another route south from the Soo would have you drive across to Manitoulin Island at the north end, and then take the ferry over to Tobermory, and then south along the Bruce Penninsula. At Tobermory you can visit the Flowerpot sea stacks formed by the waves of lake Huron. 2 destinations mentioned in this post What documentation do I require to enter Canada ? Do I need a passport ? Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) - scam sites New entry rules for Canadians with dual citizenship. What about the eTA? Canada is HOW big ? Where Should I Go ? Weather & When to Go What should I know about using Canadian currency? Can I use US currency in Canada ? Do I have to tip in Canada? Understanding Taxes in Canada I speak a little/no French. Can I get by in Québec ? How tolerant are the locals? Should I drive in winter conditions ? I come from a warmer climate.

Understanding electricity in Canada Lake Erie North Shore View Larger Map Long inhabited by aboriginals, as previously mentioned the area today is sparsely populated with the largest community being the Municipality of Chatham-Kent with just over 100,000 inhabitants which is actually an amalgamation of many former smaller communities and for all intents and purposes actually lies outside the area that I would traditionally call the Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island region. The largest communities that actually lie on the north shore of the lake are the town of Fort Erie at the extreme eastern end of the lake where the Niagara River empties it into lake Ontario and the Municipality of Leamington at the opposite western end of the region. Each community has approximately 30,000 inhabitants each. Apart from that there are many smaller communities scattered in between with a few small picturesque former fishing communities dotting the shoreline. Today their ports provide marinas for the numerous boating vacationers that flock to the area. The Town of Leamington is one of the main ports in the area and services the offshore Pelee Island a major draw for tourists and sightseers alike.

Getting to the Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island region: By Car: As previously mentioned the region is very long from east to west, approximately 275 kilometres in length. For the most part there are two highways that transverse its breadth, highways 401 and #3. Highway 401 is the main thoroughfare that stretches across Southern Ontario from Windsor to the Quebec border. For those traveling from Toronto or most other parts of the province this will be the route to take. Just head in either direction depending on your starting point and when you see a sign pointing to your ultimate destination just head south. It is very straightforward. It is also just as easy to travel along Highway #3 but this is an older original highway that actually follows the path of the old Talbot Trail, the main route along Lake Erie’s north shore that was originally constructed in the 1820’s. As such it passes through many small communities in an indirect way and thus you travel at a much slower speed over a greater distance. Not really recommended unless you have excess time to spare. By Air: Traveling to the region by air is not really an option for visitors to Ontario Canada.

While there are small airports and landing strips that dot the landscape none offer passenger services. They are for mainly private or business use. By Public Transport: By Rail: The only community in the region serviced by Via Rail is Chatham-Kent which lies on the main Windsor – Montreal line. From there you would have to rent a vehicle to get to your final destination. Visit for more information. By Bus: Most of the larger communities in the region have been serviced by bus in the past but the lack of large numbers of travelers has resulted in a significant reduction in services recently. Visit or to see if you desired destination is serviced. Insider Tip: If a visit to the Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island region is on your itinerary rent a vehicle. Driving it is relatively straight-forward and traffic is definitely not an issue once you are away from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). You also can stop at many places along the way that are definitely not accessible otherwise. Getting to Pelee Island Pelee island is the largest island in Lake Erie and does not have a land link to the main land. The only practical means of getting to the island is by ferry.

Two ferries service the island for both passengers and vehicles, the MV Jiimaan and the much smaller MV Pelee Islander, and operate from mid-March until mid-December. They operate out of the Municipality of Leamington and the nearby Town of Kingsville, summer service is also scheduled to Sandusky, Ohio. There is limited air service from Windsor airport during the winter months when the ferries are out of service. For more information as to schedules and fares visit: The Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island region is an area of Southwest Ontario that is usually visited by travelers looking for a more relaxed vacation. It is a nature enthusiast and beachcomber’s paradise. While lacking the tourist draws of the big cities or the naturally spectacular Niagara Falls, locales have long known what the region has to offer, white sandy beaches and a calm, quiet environment into which you can sit back, catch some rays or enjoy water activities in the warm waters of Lake Erie. Locations such as Point Pelee National Park and Pelee Island also provide nature seekers the chance to encounter migrations of species not seen any other place in Canada. Each year thousands flock to the area to enjoy the annual spectacles.

The small Town of Port Dover has also in recent years become world famous as it host a motorcycle rally on each Friday 13th. This year round event happens year round rain, snow or shine and has become so popular it attracts upwards of 100,000 bikers during a summer rally. All in all I’d say that if this is your first visit to Ontario Canada you will probably bypass the region but for returning visitors a day or two in the region maybe should be put on your itinerary. You can reach the majority of the region in about 2 ½ hours from Toronto and for those going to Niagara Falls it is only a continuation of about another hour before you are in the heart of the region. There are many destination in the regions worth visiting. Check out my Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island attractions pages below. Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island Attractions Point Pelee National Park A true gem in Canada's National Park system it is located at mainland Canada's southernmost tip and is farther south then some parts of Northern California. Visitors will experience warm weather, warm water and long sandy beaches.

One of the world's great birdwatching locations it falls along North America's main migration route and is a naturalists mecca. Visit my Point Pelee National Park page for more information. Leamington Ontario Canada's southernmost community is located right next to Point Pelee National Park and is the gateway to Pelee Island as it is from here that you catch the ferry to make the journey to the island. Sunny and warm with little rainfall it is an ideal destination in its own right. This Lake Erie North Shore community is known as the "tomato capital of Canada" visit my Leamington Ontario page for more information. Pelee Island One of Ontario's premier tourist destinations visitors flock here to enjoy warm weather, beaches, wine and wildlife. As far south as you can go in Canada, Pelee Island is farther south than parts of California and enjoys a Mediterranean climate with minimal rainfall. Visit my Pelee island page for more information. Wheatley Provincial Park Visitors to the park on the Lake Erie North Shore can enjoy a Mediterranean climate, warm water and a 1.6 kilometre (1 mile) long sandy beach while camping at the province's southernmost government run campground.

A perfect place to use as a home base for exploration of the surrounding region visit my Wheatley Provincial Park page for more information. Get free Ontario travel tips, updates and news. Susbcribe to my newsletter. Email Toronto Travel: Hotels | Events | Restaurants |Shopping | Attractions Feature Video Welcome to Toronto! Long before it was the massive centre it is today, Toronto was an important trading hub. Today, Canada 's largest city is a meeting place of cultures, business and art. Situated along the northern shore of Lake Ontario , Toronto mirrors New York City and consists of what was once six separate cities - Etobicoke, North York, York, Scarborough, Toronto and the borough of East York. The area was annexed into the City of Toronto in 1998, but the areas are still often referred to by their former names and maintain a unique flavour. The Harbourfront is a popular area in Toronto, home to entertainment venues, a lakeside walking trail and more. The celebrated CN Tower also beckons visitors to the enjoy the view from the top of this 533m (1,815 ft) building.

A self-proclaimed 'Megacity', visitors to this metropolitan centre will surely never run out of things to do, see or buy. Tourist Attractions

Question: Toronto, Canada, is on the northern shore of which lake?
Answer: Ontario