Thunder Bay lies on the shores of the immense Lake Superior. It is in the traditional territory of the Anishnaabeg and the Métis. Being the largest city in Northwest Ontario, it boasts incredible attractions, both cultural and natural. Many refer to it as Canada’s Greatest Outdoor City, with skiing, snowshoeing, ice climbing, and dog sledding opportunities in the winter and swimming, sailing, paddling, biking, and more during the warmer months. The city itself was created as an amalgamation of Fort William, Port Arthur, Neebing, and McIntyre in 1970. There are numerous archaeological sites in the area, identifying ancient hunting communities that followed caribou through the region around 10,000 years ago. The land was later populated by bands of Ojibwa and was subsequently settled by Europeans in the 17th century, alongside the construction of Fort William (the centre of the North West Company fur-trading empire). Today, the economy is driven primarily by natural resource extraction-- primarily forest products. It is also a diverse cultural hub, with some of the best concert halls, theatres, and art galleries in the country. The area is dominated by the characteristic rocks and forests of the great Canadian Shield. The Canadian Shield is made up of the Earth’s largest mass of exposed ancient (Precambrian) rocks that form the core of the North American continent. A trip to see this breathtaking natural wonder will not disappoint!

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