Ontario: The Traveling Facts

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:16:53 EST

Ontario is Canada's second largest province butmost populous province and is the economic engine that powers the country. Theword "Ontario:"is thought to mean "beautiful waters" in the indigenous languages. While 80percent of the province is covered by forests, 20 per cent is comprised ofwater, with over 250,000 lakes.

Ontario is Canada manufacturing leader andproduces 60% of all manufactured goods exported. Canada has political systems basedon the British parliamentary and constitutional monarchy model

There are countless interesting andexciting things to see and do.

Capital:
Toronto (pop; 4,000,000 app.), located on Lake Ontario,is Canada'slargest city. It is also the commercial, industrial and financial centre of Canada.

Accommodations
With an accommodation directory of thousands of luxuryhotel, motels, country inns, resorts, lodges, bed and breakfasts, farmvacations, self-catering accommodation, camping and house boating. Most majorchains have hotels in Ontario -- Ontario's accommodationproperties can satisfy your needs and tastes. All offer great ambience,tradition, recreation, spa services, fine dining and modern décor. Please notethat some establishments may not offer bar, lounge or licensed dining rooms.It's advisable to book ahead to determine if you may enjoy your own purchasedalcoholic beverages on site.

Attractions
From the tip of PeleeIsland to the shores of James Bay,Discover a world of attractions in Toronto.Stand on Parliament Hill and overlook the city of Ottawa. Explore art galleries, museums andheritage sites. Discover Niagara Fallsby land, water or air. Seek adventure at tons of outdoor attractions, parks,nature preserves and on thousands of lakes and rivers.

History and Culture
The French were the first Europeans to arrive in Ontario, following thepath of explorers in the early 1600s. Today, there are two Aboriginal languagegroups in Ontario:Algonquian, spoken by the Algonquin, Ojibwa and Cree; and Iroquoian, spoken bythe Iroquois. The French culture is still a part of Ontario. English and French are common Languages.

Weather
Ontario'sclimate is considered continental. Due to Ontario's size and diverse geography,temperatures may vary tremendously from region to region and even within theregions themselves.

Spring: FromMarch - May, temperature ranges from 8° C to 18° C (46° F to 64° F).

Summer: FromJune - mid-September, temperatures range from 21° C to 31° C (70° F to 88° F).

Fall:From mid-late September - November, temperatures range from 7° C to 17° C (45°F to 63° F).

Winter:From December - February, temperatures hover between -4C to -18 C (25° F to 0°F). Snowfall usually occurs through December, January and February.Precipitation in Northern Ontario varies from70 cm to 97 cm (28 in. to 38 in.).

Currency
The Canadiandollar (CAD), which is dividedinto 100 cents. Coin denominations are; 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1"loonies" and $2 "toonies" Notes/bill are $5(blue),$10,00(purple), $20,00(green),$50,00(red). Buy a bit of local currency before departingfor Canada.

Custom and duty
Non-residents of Canadavisiting Ontarioare allowed to bring in any reasonable amount of personal effects and areasonable supply of food.

Tips or service charge
Tips or service charges are not usually added to the bill inCanada.In general, a tip of 15% of the pre-tax total is given.

Driving in Ontario
Non-residentsare permitted for 3 months to drive with a driving license which is valid intheir own country. Driving is on the right-hand side of the road and the wearing ofseatbelts is compulsory

Time Zone
Most of Ontario is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone. Some of Western/NorthernOntario is in the Central Time Zone. It is -5 GMT. Daylight Saving Time comesinto effect from April - October.

Electrical Current
The standard electrical voltage current in Ontario is 110 volts/60 cycles. Not Europe standard.

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Ontario: The Traveling Facts