Old Ottawa East: Highway 417 near Nicholas Street

Built around the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence water system, Ontario grew into Canada’s most populous province. Its vast northern interior lies on the Canadian Shield, a terrain of exposed rock, boreal forest and innumerable lakes, while the south concentrates most cities and farms along the Great Lakes. Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario give the province an exceptional freshwater horizon; Niagara Falls is its best-known natural landmark. Toronto, Ontario’s largest city, is a major cultural and economic centre, while Algonquin Provincial Park, founded in 1893, represents a long tradition of protected wilderness. Move on to other webcams in the region to compare landscapes and settings around Ontario.

Canada has served as a frontier between French and British colonial powers since the 17th century. The world’s second-largest country extends from Atlantic shores to the Pacific and Arctic coasts, with the Canadian Shield, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River shaping its vast geography. First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples are central to Canada’s identity, while Ottawa’s Parliament Hill represents its federal political life. French remains the official language of Quebec, adding a distinct dimension to the country’s public culture. See how Canada connects across North America by browsing webcams in neighbouring regions.