Winnipeg is the capital and largest
city of the province of Manitoba. Located in Western
Canada, near where the Canadian Shield meets the
Prairies, Winnipeg plays a prominent role in
transportation, finance, manufacturing, agriculture and
education. It is known as the "Gateway to the West" due
to its location on the Canadian transportation network.
The city is located near the geographic centre of North
America, on a flood plain at the confluence of the Red
and Assiniboine rivers, a point now commonly known as
The Forks. The Red River Floodway protects the city from
flooding. It is by far Manitoba's largest city with a
population of 633,451. The Winnipeg Metropolitan Area
(which includes Winnipeg and surrounding rural
municipalities) has a population of 694,668 and is the
eighth largest Census Metropolitan Area in Canada.
Winnipeg offers an abundance of recreational
opportunities as it lies in close proximity to hundreds
of lakes including Lake Winnipeg, Canada's fifth largest
lake and the world's eleventh largest, Lake Manitoba, as
well as Lake of the Woods.
The city is one of Canada's major cultural centres and
is home to the world famous Royal Winnipeg Ballet. It
boasts historic architecture, scenic waterways, numerous
parks, and numerous distinctive neighbourhoods. Winnipeg
hosted the Pan-American Games in 1967 and 1999, the only
city other than Mexico City to have hosted the event
twice.
It's a Fact: A resident of Winnipeg is known as a
Winnipegger.
Source: Wikipedia -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg