The four provinces west of Lake Ontario form one of the largest economic regions of the maple leaf country. Western Canada boasts a fresh history, the special influence of the neighboring States, an English-speaking population and a reverent attitude towards family values. The inhabitants of the region are mainly engaged in forestry and marine economy, since the natural resources are very rich here.
Cards on the table
Western Canada is the four provinces that became part of the country from 1870 to 1905. Compared to other areas, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan have a much smaller population - from a million to four in each.
The westernmost part, British Columbia, looks somewhat isolated geographically - it is slightly separated from the rest of the Rocky Mountains, and therefore it has historically been the least accessible. This was the reason for the development in this part of the country of a special culture and behavior of its inhabitants.
Urban sketches
The most interesting cities in the west of Canada for the traveler are not too long list. It includes a couple of former Olympic capitals and historical places of residence of the Cree Indians:
- Vancouver is the capital of British Columbia and a very liveable metropolis. It has been awarded the title of "Best City on Earth" three times, and its main tourist attractions are Stanley Park and Queen Elizabeth Gardens. Most cruise ships to Alaska follow Vancouver.
- Calgary is located in Alberta and is famous as the first Canadian city to host the Olympic Games. Its unofficial titles are the cleanest metropolis in the world and the third for the quality of life of its population. Top tourist attractions include the historic village of Heritage Park, representing life in western Canada from the century before last, and Devon Gardens, the largest indoor urban in the world.
- Winnipeg is the Indian name for the lake on which the main city of the province of Manitoba is located. The first Europeans reached these lands in the middle of the 18th century and two hundred years later Winnipeg became the fourth largest in Canada. The cute monuments of Winnie the Pooh and the wolves are popular with young tourists, and local parks and the city zoo are especially suitable for families.
In the rocky mountains
One of the most visited national parks in western Canada is the Yoho Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the border of British Columbia and Alberta. Numerous lakes and waterfalls, canyons and limestone caves are the main attractions of Yoho, constantly photographed by thousands of visitors.
