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