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Ontario

Ontario is the second largest of Canada's thirteen provinces and territories.[1] Ontario means "beautiful water" in the native people of Ontario's language, Iroquoian.[8] The province was first settled by European settlers in 1648.[12] Toronto is the largest city in Ontario, with over 2 million residents from all around the world. Ottawa is the state's capital and is home to one of the province's biggest attractions, Parliament Hill.[4] The Canadian side of Niagara Falls is located in Ontario, as are the northern borders of the Great Lakes.[2] Ontario has 20% of the world's freshwater stores, there are over 250,000 freshwater lakes within the region.[8] The province also has over half of Canada's highest quality farmland. Ontario is known as Canada's main economic hub with several major industries such as mining, manufacturing, and agriculture.[9] Around nine million visitors spend time in Ontario every year.[5] There are two main geographical regions in the province, the Northern Ontario Region and the Southern Ontario Region.[7] The Northern Regions are covered in forest and have harsh weather conditions, while further south, the land is covered in plains and rivers.[6] There are several cottage and summer home villages throughout the province as well as urbanized areas where corporations such as Coca-Cola and BMG Music employ thousands of residents.[3] There are 14 million people currently living in Ontario.[1]

What Ontario is known for

Ontario is the second-largest province in Canada.[1] The province borders the United States and the Great Lakes. Ontario sits directly beneath the Hudson Bay and in between the other Canadian provinces of Quebec and Manitoba.[7] The capital of Canada, Ottawa, is located in Ontario. Ottawa is known for being home to Parliament Hill's Victorian architecture and the National Gallery.[4] The province's name, Ontario, comes from the Iroquois word "beautiful water."[8] The Iroquois language was the primary language spoken among Ontario's native tribes. Ontario is known for being Canada's main economic hub with significant natural diversity between its two geographical regions.[3] Ontario is home to Toronto, Canada's largest city, with over 2.7 million residents. Other major cities within the province include Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, London, Marham, and Vaughan.[4] 

Over nine million people visit the province annually. The tourism industry collects around 34 billion dollars in revenue each year, supporting about 75,000 tourism-related jobs. The summer months of June, July, and August are the most popular times for tourist visits due to the warm weather and clear skies. Most who visit the land will spend time visiting Niagara Falls, the Great Lakes, and various attractions within Toronto. The multicultural hub of Toronto is filled with several different ethnic groups and various cultures. Due to this, tourists also come from all around the world, most often from Europe, parts of Asia, and the United States.[5] 

Ontario not only has large cities but also hosts vast wildernesses and pristine lakes.[1] During the summer, most people participate in outdoor activities such as visiting lakeside resorts, camping, and playing at amusement parks. In the winter, most outdoor activities revolve around ample snowfall throughout the region. Visitors can go to skating rinks, winter festivals, and ski resorts, as well as go snowmobile. Indoor activities during the winter season include hockey games, shopping at Toronto's numerous shopping plazas, and watching Broadway shows.[2]

In specific, Niagara Falls is Canada's most internationally recognized attraction. There are three sets of falls along a great wall reaching across the border of Canada and the United States. The falls are famous for the volume of water that flows through them. Visitors can watch the falls from several lookout points as well as take a boat tour near the falls. Toronto's CN Tower stands 553 meters tall with an observation deck and a restaurant at its top.[8] The tower has 360 views of the surrounding city and Lake Ontario. On clear days Niagara Falls can be seen from the top of the tower. At the provincial capital Ottawa, Parliament Hill is a popular tourist attraction, where guests can tour the large government building and its surrounding gardens.[2]

Other attractions within the major cities of Ontario include the National Gallery of Canada, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Art Gallery of Ontario. There are many provincial and national parks throughout Ontario. Within these parks, there are freshwater lakes where guests can fish, swim, and go boating. Algonquin Provincial Park and Killarney Provincial Park have extensive networks of hiking trails, campgrounds, and waterways. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Georgian Bay Islands National Park, and the Fathom Five National Marine Park are all located within Ontario. Some of the nation's oldest and most popular holiday areas are located in Ontario, the Thousand Islands, and throughout Muskoka's cottage country. Blue Mountain Resort is a popular ski resort with its own small village.[2]

Ontario is part of the North American manufacturing heartland as manufacturing is one of its most profitable industries. The province manufactures communications technologies, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Ontario has over half of the highest quality farmland in Canada, and there are over 51,950 farms in the province. The agricultural industry produces fruit crops, vegetables, soybeans, corn, mixed grains, forage crops, wheat, and barely. Several variations of flowers and ornamental plants are produced within the region as well. Most farms within the province raise poultry, hog, beef, and dairy cattle. Other major industries within the province include forestry and mining. Mineral production makes billions of dollars a year for the province. Gold, copper, zinc, cobalt, and silver are commonly mined elements.[9]

Geography

Two geographical regions compose the land of Ontario. These regions are opposites in not only geography but also in weather, plant and animal life, and population. Northern Ontario is the first of these regions. Sitting north of the Mattawa and Ottawa Rivers along the Quebec border, the Northern Ontario region covers around 350,000 square miles and is part of the Canadian Shield. Characteristically marked with lakes, rivers, bogs, dense forests, and rock-covered terrain, the area is less populated.[7] The highest point in Ontario is located in the Northern Ontario region at Ishpatina Ridge near Lake Temagami.[1] The Northern Ontario region has rich mineral deposits, large forest reserves, and its many rivers provide the more populous areas of the province with hydroelectric power.[9] The majority of the soil in the Northern Ontario Region is mineral-covered and therefore unsuitable for agriculture.[11] 

The second of the geographical regions is the Southern Ontario region. The land follows along the southern side of the Ottawa River. The southern borders of the region are covered in a series of lakes, including the Muskoka Lakes, the lakes of the Haliburton Highlands, and the Rideau Lake Chain. Several roads and rail lines pass through the region's notched valleys, rolling plains, and marshlands. Most of the land inside the Southern Ontario region was created through glacial erosion, so the land is primarily flat. The Canadian side of Niagara Falls is also located within this geographical region.[7] A fertile podzolic soil covers most of the region along with some sand plains. Farms and other agriculture cover the region.[11] Around 20% of the world's freshwater stores are located in Ontario's 250,000 freshwater lakes and additional rivers and waterways.[8]

The vegetation throughout Ontario changes drastically between its geographical regions. In Northern Ontario, the land is covered in thick forests of black and white spruce, tamarack, poplar, balsam, jack pine, and white birch. Along the Hudson Bay, there is a band of tundra land with frozen soil and frosted wetlands with little to no vegetation. In Southern Ontario, the land is covered in white and red pines, prairie grasses.[11] Fertile soil for agriculture such as fruit crops, soybean, corn, and wheat crops, flowers, and other ornamental plants covers the region.[9] 

Animal life within the region varies depending on the climate and geography. In the more mountainous and forested areas, there are large mammals such as moose, woodland caribou, black bears, and wolves. Small mammals in these areas are porcupines, skunks, muskrats, rabbits, foxes, and beavers. In the northern areas of the province near the tundra, there are polar bears, otters, and rabbits. Ducks, geese, grouse, owls, hawks, and finches are located throughout the province.[10]

In Northern Ontario, the climate varies drastically from those near the Great Lakes. Near the Hudson Bay, the weather is harsh, with only 40 days reaching temperatures above freezing a year. The average temperature in the north is around 5 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 60 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. The area receives around 28 inches of rainfall annually and 85 inches of snow. Southern Ontario has less intense weather patterns with high humidity due to its many lakes. The southern area receives around 35 inches of rain and 85 inches of snow. The average temperature during the winter is 25 degrees Fahrenheit and 72 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. The province as a whole is partly cloudy year-round.[6]

History

The Canadian Province of Ontario’s first known inhabitants are members of the Iroquoian-speaking Huron, Tionontati, and Erie of the south, as well as the Algonquian-speaking Algonquin, Ojibwa, and Cree to the north. The southern areas of the province were used by these natives for agriculture, while most of those living up north spent their time hunting. Etienne Brule, a French explorer, was the first known European to reach the land and meet these people during an expedition along the Ottawa River in 1610. Samuel de Champlain came soon after. Champlain was a French colonist, navigator, draftsman, cartographer, and diplomat. He discovered most of New France, including Quebec in 1608, the Ottawa River, northern New York, and the eastern Great Lakes. The explorer brought groups of other French explorers, fur traders, and missionaries into the province.[12] 

Fort Frontenac was the first French military protection base brought to the land in 1673. The fort was created to protect the growing fur empire of the area. In 1763, the fort proved itself when New France and Great Britain fought for the land, stopping the British from reaching into the Ontario region.[1] After the Quebec Act of 1774, Ontario was established as an extended colony of Quebec. During the American Revolution, the area was used as a base for loyalists. After over a century since its official discovery, Ontario was settled by 10,000 loyalists and the Iroquois who fought for the British. The Constitutional Act, also known as the Canada Bill, was passed in 1791. This act divided Quebec and Ontario into distinct provinces. Ontario then received its own representative government. John Graves Simcoe was the first lieutenant governor of Ontario.[12] 

York was the name of Upper Canada or Ontario’s first major city. The city played host government meetings and large construction projects. Thousands of immigrants from the United States established themselves in York. Over the next century, the city of York grew considerably as more immigrants came from Ireland, Great Britain, and Scotland.[1] The growth of the region expanded the city of York, and it was eventually renamed Toronto and became a commercial rival for the large city of Montreal in Quebec.[4] In northern Ontario, the Hudson’s Bay Company was established, and later the harnessing of Niagara Falls took place in 1882. These monumental achievements created an energy revolution for the province with hydroelectric power production. With this energy, factories were built in Toronto, and railways were created to transport goods.[9] Ontario went on to be the second-largest province with multiple major cities and industries that still provide resources for all of Canada.[8]

Top Campgrounds in Ontario, Canada

Explore a property in Ontario

#1

Woodland Park

Suable Beach, Ontario
4.5 (29 Reviews)

#2

McCreary's Beach Resort

Carleton Place, Ontario
4.4 (93 Reviews)

#3

Lakeside Village Motel and Campground

Wheatley, Ontario
4.3 (33 Reviews)

#4

Mississippi Lake RV Resort

Carleton Place, Ontario
4.1 (13 Reviews)

#5

Golden Pond RV Resort

Mossley, Ontario
4 (167 Reviews)

Golden Pond RV Resort is located 1 km off of the 401 at exit 208 and only 20 km east of London, Ontario. The RV Park has 270 sites ranging from RV space for overnight camping to permanent mobile homes. There are roughly 80 permanent mobile homes, which have cement pads and natural gas hookups, 110 seasonal RV sites, and several other units, such as a cabin and tent sites. The RV overnight and weekend spaces are a mix of back-in and pull-through sites, depending on the location. Regardless of which site is selected, they all have a fire pit, picnic table and sewer, electric and water hookups. The electric hookups range between 30 and 50 AMPs.

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#6

Riverland Lodge & Camp

Madawaska, Ontario
3.7 (41 Reviews)

The Riverland Lodge is a campground located near the Madawaska River. The park was established in 1976 and, at one point, was part of a town. Some foundations from former buildings can still be seen and are sometimes used as pads. The property consists of 160 sites. Mobile homes make up four of the sites, while the rest are for RVs and campers. On the grounds, visitors have access to playgrounds, a recreation field, beaches along the river, and a lodge for events and various activities. The property is most known for its location and is often visited by families and seasonal groups for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and ATVing. The staff strives to help guests have good experiences and hopes to create a family-friendly culture. 

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#7

Magnetawan River Resort

Britt, Ontario
3.45 (62 Reviews)

Magnetawan River Resort offers 45 RV sites and nine stand-alone cottages and can be found on the northern side of Byng Inlet in Britt, Ontario. The Byng Inlet feeds into Georgian Bay, which offers a variety of activities, such as boating, fishing, and kayaking. The property offers boat rentals for those that would like to spend time on the water. There is a seven-night minimum requirement stay for guests who would like to make a reservation. Magnetawan River Resort was first built in 1980, though it was run under a different name. Fishing and hunting are both relevant activities that can be done in the area. The resort is open seasonally, starting in May and closing in October.

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#8

Killarney Provincial Park

Killarney, Ontario
4.8 (1 Reviews)

#9

Tay River Tent & Trailer Park

Perth, Ontario
4.8 (1 Reviews)

#10

Fish Tale Cabins

Noelville, Ontario
4.7 (1 Reviews)

#11

Saugeen Riverbank Campground

Walkerton, Ontario
4.7 (1 Reviews)

#12

Summer House Park

Miller Lake, Ontario
4.6 (1 Reviews)

#13

Campers Cove Campground

Wheatley, Ontario
4.6 (1 Reviews)

#14

Kenorus Campground & R V Resort Inc

Port Elgin, Ontario
4.6 (1 Reviews)

#15

Rus-Ton Village Family Campground

Grand Bend, Ontario
4.5 (1 Reviews)

#16

Bluewater Golf Course & Campgrounds

Bayfield, Ontario
4.5 (1 Reviews)

#17

Big Water Campground

Timmins, Ontario
4.5 (1 Reviews)

#18

Lands End Park

Tobermory, Ontario
4.5 (1 Reviews)

#19

Harbour Side Trailer Park

Port Franks, Ontario
4.5 (1 Reviews)

#20

Manitoulin Resort

Manitowaning, Ontario
4.4 (1 Reviews)

#21

Sunny Valley Park

Owen Sound, Ontario
4.4 (1 Reviews)

#22

Lions Club Pointe Des Chenes Campground

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
4.3 (1 Reviews)

#23

Bell Falls

Waubaushene, Ontario
4.3 (1 Reviews)

#24

Stillwater Tent & Trailer Park

Nipigon, Ontario
4.2 (1 Reviews)

#25

Winding River Campground

Sauble Beach, Ontario
4.1 (1 Reviews)

#26

Saugeen Cedars Family Campgrnd

Hanover, Ontario
4.1 (1 Reviews)

#27

Paul Bunyan Lake Front Resort

Bayfield, Ontario
4.1 (1 Reviews)

#28

Pleasure Park RV Resort Inc

Mallorytown, Ontario
4 (1 Reviews)

#29

Holiday Beach

New Hamburg, Ontario
4 (1 Reviews)

#30

Harmony Acres

Tobermory, Ontario
4 (1 Reviews)

#31

Tobermory Village Campground

Tobermory, Ontario
3.9 (1 Reviews)

#32

Windsor Campground

Windsor, Ontario
3.9 (1 Reviews)

#33

Sauble Falls Tent & Trailer Camp

Wiarton, Ontario
3.8 (1 Reviews)

#34

Carol Campsite and RV Park

Sudbury, Ontario
3.8 (1 Reviews)

#35

Happy Hearts Tent & Trailer Park

Tobermory, Ontario
3.8 (1 Reviews)

#36

Talon Lake Campground & Marina

Rutherglen, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#37

Green Acres Campground & RV Park

Kincardine, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

Located in Ontario, Canada, Green Acres Campground & RV Park occupies land in the town of Kincardine near Lake Huron. Currently, the campground offers about 200 RV sites for seasonal and overnight stays. In view of the establishment's location near Lake Huron, the recreational activities that can be undertaken in the vicinity of the campground tend to pique the interest of outdoor enthusiasts. The property itself also provides a number of on-site activities, such as a swimming pool, basketball court, and playground, to name a few. The owners strive to encourage their visitors to be actively engaged in the social aspect of the campground by periodically hosting events. The owners do this in an effort to create a community-oriented environment at Green Acres Campground & RV Park.

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#38

Carson's Camp

Sauble Beach, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#39

Sun Retreats Stratford

Bornholm, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#40

Cedar Beach Camping Resort – We are a fully serviced ...https://cedarbeachresort.ca

Eganville, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#41

Lillie Kup Trailer and Tent Campground

Katrine, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#42

Bee Happy Family Campground

Innisfil, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#43

ToJo's Christian Family Campground

Elmvale, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#44

Landings Campground

Petersburg, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#45

Kelders Trailer Sales

Grand Bend, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#46

Silver Birches Carefree RV Resort

Lambton Shores, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#47

Rondeau Provincial Park

Morpeth, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#48

Sunset Country Camp Ground

Tichborne, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#49

Rideau Acres

Kingston, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#50

Lake Matinenda RV Park and Marina

Blind River, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#51

Cedar Rail Camp Limited

Chesley, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#52

Green Acre Park

Waterloo, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#53

Mitchell's Bay Marine Park Ltd

Chatham, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#54

Sun Retreat Amherstburg

Amherstburg, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#55

Quetico Provincial Park

Atikokan, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#56

Silver Birches Camp-Out Ltd

Forest, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#57

Opeongo Trail Resort

Combermere, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#58

White Wolf Resort

Geraldton, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#59

Sun Retreats Hay Bay

Napanee, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#60

Lost Channel Inn & Marina

Port Loring, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#61

Minnehaha Camp Resort

Port Loring, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#62

Sunnyside Campground & Cottages

Westport, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#63

Mornington Rose Bed and Breakfast

Stratford, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#64

Jellystone Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#65

Maitland Shore

Dunnville, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#66

Lazy Rock Acres

Mattawa, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#67

Ottawa's Poplar Grove Campground/ RV Park

Ottawa, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#68

Champlain Tent Trailer and RV Park

North Bay, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#69

Bee Line Trailer Park #1

Aylmer, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#70

Chapple Centennial R.V. Park

Emo, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#71

Maple Leaf RV Campground

Mallorytown, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#72

Rockhaven Mobile Home Park

Carleton Place, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#73

Lilac Resort Ltd

Ste. Anne, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#74

Bona Vista Campground

Cobden, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#75

Happy Holiday Campground and Cottages

Ontario, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#76

Marten River Escapes

Marten River, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#77

Bell's Point Beach Campground

Ontario, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#78

Gates of Amida

Etobicoke, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#79

Camper's Corner RV Campground

London, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#80

Rolling Hills Ottawa

Cumberland, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#81

Tiny Village Ottawa

Kitchener, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#82

Windmill Trailer Park

Fullarton, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#83

Woodland Lake Carefree RV Resort

Monkton, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#84

Silver Lake Tent & Trailer Pk

Holyrood, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#85

Arran Lake Carefree RV Resort

West Allenford, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#86

Bala Woodlands Tent and Trailer Campground

Bala, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#87

Little Mississippi Trails & Campgrounds

Bancroft, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#88

Bon Echo Family Campground

Cloyne, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#89

Haid's Hideaway Family Campground

Tweed, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#90

Oro Family Campground

Oro Station, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

#91

Skycroft Campground Resort

Elgin, Ontario
0 (0 Reviews)

Top 10 Campgrounds in Ontario, Canada
#1

Woodland Park

Suable Beach, Ontario
4.5 (29 Reviews)

#2

McCreary's Beach Resort

Carleton Place, Ontario
4.4 (93 Reviews)

#3

Lakeside Village Motel and Campground

Wheatley, Ontario
4.3 (33 Reviews)

#4

Mississippi Lake RV Resort

Carleton Place, Ontario
4.1 (13 Reviews)

#5

Golden Pond RV Resort

Mossley, Ontario
4 (167 Reviews)

Golden Pond RV Resort is located 1 km off of the 401 at exit 208 and only 20 km east of London, Ontario. The RV Park has 270 sites ranging from RV space for overnight camping to permanent mobile homes. There are roughly 80 permanent mobile homes, which have cement pads and natural gas hookups, 110 seasonal RV sites, and several other units, such as a cabin and tent sites. The RV overnight and weekend spaces are a mix of back-in and pull-through sites, depending on the location. Regardless of which site is selected, they all have a fire pit, picnic table and sewer, electric and water hookups. The electric hookups range between 30 and 50 AMPs.

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#6

Riverland Lodge & Camp

Madawaska, Ontario
3.7 (41 Reviews)

The Riverland Lodge is a campground located near the Madawaska River. The park was established in 1976 and, at one point, was part of a town. Some foundations from former buildings can still be seen and are sometimes used as pads. The property consists of 160 sites. Mobile homes make up four of the sites, while the rest are for RVs and campers. On the grounds, visitors have access to playgrounds, a recreation field, beaches along the river, and a lodge for events and various activities. The property is most known for its location and is often visited by families and seasonal groups for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and ATVing. The staff strives to help guests have good experiences and hopes to create a family-friendly culture. 

Learn More
#7

Magnetawan River Resort

Britt, Ontario
3.45 (62 Reviews)

Magnetawan River Resort offers 45 RV sites and nine stand-alone cottages and can be found on the northern side of Byng Inlet in Britt, Ontario. The Byng Inlet feeds into Georgian Bay, which offers a variety of activities, such as boating, fishing, and kayaking. The property offers boat rentals for those that would like to spend time on the water. There is a seven-night minimum requirement stay for guests who would like to make a reservation. Magnetawan River Resort was first built in 1980, though it was run under a different name. Fishing and hunting are both relevant activities that can be done in the area. The resort is open seasonally, starting in May and closing in October.

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#8

Killarney Provincial Park

Killarney, Ontario
4.8 (1 Reviews)

#9

Tay River Tent & Trailer Park

Perth, Ontario
4.8 (1 Reviews)

#10

Fish Tale Cabins

Noelville, Ontario
4.7 (1 Reviews)