Ottawa is the capital of Canada. In addition, it is the fourth largest city in the country. Ottawa, the cultural and intellectual center of Canada, has many museums, art galleries, theaters and universities. Founded in the Ottawa Valley, on the banks of the Ottawa River, the city also houses the country’s parliament. Neighboring the Province of Quebec, Ottawa is located on the southeast end of the Province of Ontario. Another feature that distinguishes Ottawa from other cities of Canada is that there are two official languages in the city. English and French are the official languages of Ottawa, and you can see this bilingualism in every field. There are bilingual expressions on the shop windows, traffic signs, and billboards. English and French, which are considered equal by law, are side by side in both public and legal fields. This situation, which is not seen in other cities of Canada, is valid only for Ottawa. The mother tongue of 32% of the Ottawa population is French.
Famous for its museums and parks, Ottawa offers its visitors the most beautiful state of the art and nature. It is possible to find a different atmosphere in every corner of the city. With this feature, Ottawa manages to attract visitors of all ages and segments. Ottawa is visited by thousands of travelers every year with its dozens of works of art, lush parks and dazzling museums, where British, French and local art approaches come together. In addition to its cultural appeal, Ottawa is also the political and technological center of Canada.
With the evacuation of the Sea of Champlain nearly ten thousand years ago, Ottawa Valley became habitable. Activities such as agriculture, hunting and fishing started to be carried out in the region in a short time. The region where the city was established has been used as a campus area for more than 6500 years. As a result of archaeological excavations in the Ottawa River valley, many stone tools, various pots and arrowheads were found. These findings also provide information about vital activities in the region.
Ottawa has remained important as a commercial zone for thousands of years. Philemon Wright, who played an important role in the history of Ottawa, is known as the first to establish the first settlement on the northern side of the Ottawa River on March 7, 1800. Aiming to establish a small agricultural community at first, Wright started transporting timber along the river from Ottawa Valley to Quebec. This is the beginning of the timber trade, the most important economic activity of the region. The city started to develop rapidly after these activities. It started to be heard in 1826 under the name “Bytown”. The city has made rapid progress in the field of fishing and commerce and has managed to make its name known to the world. Over time, fur trade gained importance in Ottawa. The French traders kept the fur trade under monopoly. The French influence in Ottawa started in this way and made a great contribution to the city’s economy and cultural activities.
The city, which started to be known with its river and valley in 1855, was officially named Ottawa. Colonel John By had a great influence on the city’s first mention as Bytown. The area, which was opened to settlement as a small timber town, has become a considerable center in timber trade thanks to John By. Colonel John By personally worked on the construction of the Rideau Canal, one of the city’s famous buildings. The Rideau Canal, completed between 1826-1832, is now on the UNESCO World Heritage list. In the middle of the 19th century, the city began to prosper with the establishment of timber factories around the Ottawa River. Thanks to these factories, the richness of the city has increased the city population and the employment activities in the region have accelerated. The city started to develop in the region known as ByWard Market today and later expanded. ByWard Market is still the center of the city and is home to vibrant nightlife and countless shops.
Ottawa is one of the world’s leading cities in terms of high quality of life. One feature that distinguishes Ottawa, which has a high quality of life, from other capitals of the world is its greenery. Although it is the capital, elements such as tall buildings, crowded and gray streets and heavy traffic seen in many other capitals are not found in Ottawa. The city is filled with lush green parks, aesthetic buildings and colorful showcases. Although there is no sea in the city, it is appreciated by its visitors with the beauty of its rivers and lakes. One of Ottawa’s main livelihoods is tourism. For this reason, the tourist attractions in the city are carefully protected. Ottawa people are also very respectful and conscious towards nature and art. It is always possible to find monuments in the city, museums in various areas, city parks, canal surroundings always clean. Although the winter season is cold, tourist and cultural activities in Ottawa continue without interruption. For this reason, visitors to the city can find various activities to do in summer and winter.
Having the largest ice rink in the world, Ottawa hosts fun images on ice during the winter season. Due to the freezing of the Rideau Canal in the center of the city during the winter season, the people of Ottawa use skates and skis on the canal, including government members and bureaucrats. Although the best time to visit the city is the summer season when the weather gets warmer, Ottawa gets a different beauty in the winter season. The cold winter season makes Ottawa the 7th coldest capital in the world. Almost half of the city population consists of individuals under the age of 35. This makes Ottawa the youngest populated city in Canada. In this case, the high job opportunities for young people and the quality universities in the city are also influential. Ottawa promises you a unique journey with its lush greenery, young and dynamic population, and its natural and cultural beauties, containing the finest examples of British and French architecture.
