Toronto

Canada's metropolis on Lake Ontario

Categories: Toronto Ontario Canada

Those who come to Toronto for the first time will be impressed by the skyline. Surrounded by skyscrapers, the top of the CN Tower rises into the sky in the center. The 553 meter high television tower is a landmark of the city. Located on the western shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto is Canada's largest city with 2.6 million inhabitants and an important economic and cultural center. Nevertheless, the much smaller Ottawa in the east is the capital. Since Toronto is located in the south of Canada, the climate is very pleasant, especially in summer.
© lucky_photo / Fotolia

Development into a multicultural metropolis
Before the arrival of the European settlers, various indigenous peoples lived in today's city area. In 1750 French merchants established a first base there. During the American War of Independence, more and more settlers from Great Britain came to the area. In 1793, the British Fort York was built, which was to play an important role during the British-American War that began in 1812.

After the war the place continued to grow. In 1827 a university was founded, which later became the University of Toronto. In 1834 the university was renamed Toronto. For several years it was the capital of the British colony Province of Canada. With the industrialization in the second half of the 19th century, the rise to a big city began.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the population grew by leaps and bounds. After the Second World War new immigrants from Europe and Asia came to the city. For the first time the million mark was reached. A special feature of today's Toronto is the multiethnic composition of the population. Some quarters like Chinatown, Greektown or Little Italy bear witness to this.

A tour of Toronto
Numerous famous architects have designed important buildings in Toronto. The city center is dominated by high-rise buildings. In North America, the city has the most high-rise buildings after New York. The First Canadian Place is Toronto's highest skyscraper, at 298 meters. In 1929, the luxury hotel Fairmont Royal York was opened. The magnificent building has 28 floors and is 124 meters high, gigantic for its time.

Externally it reminds one of an oversized castle. Another special feature of the city center is the 27-kilometer-long network of underground pedestrian tunnels called PATH. The first sections were already completed at the beginning of the last century. In the "underground city", numerous stores and boutiques invite you to go shopping even in bad weather.

From the PATH tunnel system there is an access to the much frequented Allen Lambert Galleria. The elaborately designed shopping center on Brookfield Place is a popular tourist destination. The Eaton Centre is also accessible via the PATH. In addition to numerous stores, there are several cinemas and discotheques. Chinatown is worth a visit.
© pigprox / Fotolia

It was already built at the end of the 19th century. The streets are full of Chinese stores and restaurants. Many signs are bilingual. Greektown is also interesting. About 125,000 Greeks live in the district, one of the largest Greek communities outside Greece. The cultural life in Toronto is rich. The Royal Ontario Museum is the largest museum in Canada. Visitors can delve deeper into the history of the country. Art lovers should not miss a visit to the Art Gallery of Ontario.