Montreal

Montreal is the second largest city in Canada. It is also the largest city in the province of Quebec. Ranked as the 15th-largest metropolitan area in Northern America and 77th in the world, it was incorporated as a city in the year 1832. It was the capital of the United Province of Canada from 1844 to 1849. It is the Francophone Metropolis of North America. Since most of the streets start with the name 'Saint', the city is nick named 'The City Of Saints'. The city is notorious for being the poorest of the four largest cities in Canada. Montreal is also ranked as the number one city in the world to live in for its culture, architecture, history and ambience. The head of the city government in Montreal is the mayor, who is first among equals in the City Council.

Area & Location: Montreal is situated in the southwestern corner of the province of Quebec, approximately 270 kilometers southwest of Quebec City and 190 kilometers east of Ottawa, the federal capital, 539 kilometers northeast of Toronto and 610 kilometers north of New York City. Lies on the Island of Montreal at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers, the city covers a total area of 366.02 sq. km. The Metropolitan area of Montreal has a population of 3,635,700.

Economy: Montreal is an important regional center of commerce, industry, culture, finance and world affairs.

The important industries in the city include pharmaceuticals, high technology, finance, textile, clothing, higher education, electronic goods, siftware engineering, building, city engineering, transportation devices, printed goods, fabric, aerospance and tobacco. Considered as the major port city, it is a trans-shipment point for grain, sugar, petroleum products, machinery, and consumer goods. The city is also a center of French Canadian film and television production.

Tourist Attractions: In addition to the skyscrapers, Montreal offers its visitors with a variety of attractive places such as amusement parks, museums, stadiums and so on. La Ronde is the biggest amusement park in Montreal and it is often visited by thousands daily. The Montreal Fireworks Festival held every summer provides feast for the eyes. Historic areas with attractions as the Old Port, Place Jacques-Cartier, City Hall, the Marche Bonsecours, Place d'Armes and Pointe-a-Calliere Museum are also the sites visited by tourists. The Olympic stadium of Montreal, that is the world's tallest inclined tower at 175 metres high and leaning at 45 degree fascinates the visitors soon after they enter Montreal. The Olympic complex including the Montreal Biodome, Montreal Insectarium and the Montreal Botanical Garden, one of the largest botanical gardens in the world and Kew in England draws public attention. The four Roman Catholic basilicas Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral, the Notre-Dame Basilica, St. Patrick's Basilica and Saint Joseph's Oratory attract pilgrims from far and wide.