Ottawa (originally named and known as Bytown) belongs to the Canadian province of Ontario and is the capital city of Canada. The metropolitan population is a bit over one million people. The city lies in the Ottawa Valley, on the banks of the Ottawa River, a major waterway that forms the boundary between Ontario and Quebec.

Because of its proximity to Quebec, Ottawa is a bilingual city, reflecting its French and English heritage. It is a vibrant, multicultural capital city.

Canadian frequently reffer to Ottawa as Ottawa-Gatineau, because the city itself is neighbouring the city of Hull over the river, which is part of the province of Quebec and the municipality of Gatineau.

Ottawa has excellent museums and historic buildings. Outdoor recreation is popular here, thanks to the central locations of the Rideau Canal, Gatineau Park and the Ottawa River.

Home to the copper-roofed Parliament Buildings, the Supreme Court of Canada and foreign embassies, Ottawa is also a vigorous community housing farmers markets, world-class museums and historic buildings.

The canal stretching down from Ottawa to Kingston was declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site.

All City Rankings in Worldwide Surveys

	Ranked 1st	Best Cities to Live in (2004)
	Ranked 4th	Healthiest Cities (2007)
	Ranked 18th	Cities with Best Quality of Life (2007)
	Ranked 19th	Cities with Best Quality of Life (2008)
	Ranked 22nd	Safest Cities (2008)

 

All City Rankings in Regional Surveys

	Ranked 1st	Canada's Most Prosper Places to Live (2008)
	Ranked 2nd	Canada's Best Places to Retire (2008)

 

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Tags: Best Cities of Canada, Canada, Cities, Ottawa

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