Ottawa is a picturesque large city in Canada in the south-east of the country. It is the capital and is located at the junction of two provinces: Ontario and Quebec. Every year a large number of tourists come here to enjoy the beauties of the city, relax and see local attractions. The town has an area of 4662 km² and a population density of 251.8 persons per km².
Population of Ottawa
Ottawa ranks fourth among the country's cities in terms of population - it exceeds 1,400,000 people. The city's concentration of government offices and high-tech businesses has led to Ottawa's population having one of the highest levels of education in Canada. Among the population aged 25 to 64 years, 38.3% had a university education at least one degree (bachelor's degree).
In recent decades, Ottawa has seen a rapid increase in the percentage of residents belonging to visible ethnic minorities — blacks and Asians. From a linguistic point of view, English is considered the first - it is spoken by 65% of the population, followed by French - 15%, the rest of the languages - 18%.
Ottawa is mostly a Christian city, the center of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa.
Ottawa Climate
The climate is temperate continental - hot summers and cold winters. Ottawa is the snowiest of the world's capitals and the third coldest. The average temperature in January is −11 °C, and in July - +20.3 °C. The snowiest month is December (an average of 57 cm of snow). The annual rainfall rate is about 944 mm per year, of which in the form of rain - 732 mm. Winter lasts from December to March, although frosts occur even in early May.
Nature
The city has a lot of parks and squares, Ottawa is considered a very green and clean city. In the central part of the city there is a Confederate Park with beautiful paths and monuments. Majors Hill Park often hosts cultural events, andrew Heydon Park has a picnic or an open-air concert. There are also waterfalls. Rideau Falls are two waterfalls that are located at the confluence of the Rideau River into the Ottawa River. Between the two waterfalls is Green Island.
Local cuisine and food
At every step of Ottawa you can find interesting cafes and restaurants, where cuisine of any culture of the world is served. Anglo-Saxon, French and Italian cuisines are most common, chinese, Indian, Japanese, Russian, Polish, Mexican and Portuguese establishments are often found. Fast food is widespread. Canadians prefer meat dishes - steaks, roast beef, steaks, and the most delicious and famous dishes are "fillet brochette", pie with kidneys, fried chicken, boiled flison and stewed rabbit. Locals also love pumpkin soup, noodles and maple syrup pancakes. Canadians' favorite drink is beer.
The best restaurants in Ottawa:
- La Bottega – Italian cuisine and wine
- Hunter's Public House Restaurant – elite pub
- Gezellig – Canadian cuisine and pancakes with syrup
- Cozmos Souvlaki – Mediterranean cuisine
- Cumberland Pizza – pizza
- Atelier – Canadian and international cuisine
- Sansotei Ramen – Japanese cuisine, ramens
- Chez Fatima – Moroccan cuisine
- Aperitivo is the best wine bar.
The best cafes in Ottawa include the following establishments:
- Baker Street Cafe – delicious coffee and Canadian breakfasts
- Alice's Village Cafe – exquisite cakes and mukxes
- The Wild Oat – Canadian desserts, sandwiches
- Mantovani 1946 — Italian ice cream
- Art Is In Bakery – the best bakery in the city
- A Thing for Chocolate – French cuisine and croissants
- Black Walnut Bakery – bakery and desserts.
Entertainment & Recreation
Ottawa is a great place to relax. In summer,you can ski in Gatin Park,and in the warm season you can ride bicycles. Also in the city there is a huge outdoor skating rink. Locals are very fond of sports, so here you can meet many athletes, and in the mornings and evenings people will run in the parks, breathing fresh air. Popular are the pedestrian sparks street and the area near the Byward Market with its world-famous clubs Helsinki and Heaven. Every spring in the city there is a delightful holiday - the Tulip Festival.
Transport
Modern public transport in Ottawa is represented by buses and the O-Train light rail line. A ticket for the O-Train costs $ 3.60, you can buy tickets in vending machines at stations, discounts are provided to preferential categories of citizens. The city authorities plan to develop O-Train, laying additional branches that will connect the city center and the airport with the eastern and western districts of the city.
Ottawa buses are also operated by municipal transport company OC Transpo. They are painted red and white.
There are many taxi companies in the city. All taxi cars are licensed, the fare in them is regulated, the cost of the trip depends on the distance and travel time. The fare is as follows: boarding a car (about $ 2.5) + each next kilometer (about $ 1) + every minute of waiting ($ 0.5). Baggage is free of charge.
Ottawa has a VeloGO bike rental network. The system includes 250 bicycles available for rent at 25 rental locations. The stations are mainly located in the central areas of the city. For tourists and cycling enthusiasts, there are special routes along the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers and the Rideau Canal.
Connection
You can call in Ottawa from any bar or restaurant, from a street phone box. Local conversations cost $ 0.5, and the call time is not limited. The national mobile operators in Canada are Bell Mobility, Telus and Fido. Internet access in Ottawa is available in numerous internet cafes and public libraries.
Ottawa Landmarks
In Ottawa, a huge number of attractions known around the world. The most popular among tourists include the following:
- National Gallery of Canada
One of ottawa's most famous museums.
- Upper Canada Village
- Basilica of Our Lady of Ottawa
Beautiful Cathedral of Our Lady in Ottawa on the site of the wooden church of St. James.
- Canadian War Museum
Canadian War Museum dedicated to national military history.
- Canadian History Museum
Canada's most visited museum on this side of the Ottawa River is in Gatineau.
- Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography
- Watsons Mill
The only flour mill remaining in working order.
- Ottawa Aviation and Space Museum
- Bytown Museum
The Bytown Museum is located in the heart of the city, near Parliament Hill, and is dedicated to the early history of Ottawa.
- Hotel Château Lurie in Ottawa
Beautiful castle-hotel, built in the style of French Gothic.
- Parliament Hill in Ottawa - The heart of the city
- Byward Market
Byward Market is Ottawa's most famous marketplace.
- Central Experimental Farm
A working farm and at the same time a research center.
Theatres in Ottawa
Canadians value culture and theatre very much. Actors from all over the world come here to put first-class performances on stage. The most popular theaters of the city include:
- National Center for the Arts – Arts Court Theatre
- Great Canadian Theatre Company
- YukYuk’s
- Ottawa Little Theatre
- Ron Maslin Playhouse.
Cinemas Ottawa
Cinemas in Ottawa are modern, with soft chairs and comfortable conditions. Most importantly, Ottawa cinemas are safe and careful. The best cinemas of the city:
- Mayfair
- Ottawa Family Cinema
- Silvercity Gloucester, Coliseum
- Theatre Imax, World Exchange Centre.
