Province (pop., 2001: 11,874,400), the second largest in Canada.
Situated between Hudson Bay and James Bay and the Toronto . Before European settlement, the area was inhabited by Iroquois and Algonquin Indian tribes. In the 17th century it was visited by French explorers and missionaries. It passed to the British in 1763 after the French and Indian War . It was the scene of many battles in the War of 1812 . The area was known as Canada West from 1841 until 1867, when it became one of four provinces of the new Dominion of Canada. Northern Ontario has a rocky and rugged terrain with thick forests, bogs, lakes, and extensive mineral reserves. Southern Ontario is an important farming and industrial region and is the centre of Canada's population and urban development. Ottawa , the national capital, is also in Ontario.