Manitoba

Manitoba is Canada's fifth province and itnis the first of the three prairie provinces as you head west. The southern half is low and flat and the orthern half is rocky, hilly and forested lake land. The western edge of Manitoba is good farming land.

The capital of Manitoba is Winnipeg and it is a major cultural centre which offers a good choice of accommodation and dining.

There are large parks which are scattered across the province which are good for hiking and exploring. Hudson Bay is what attracts most visitors for its wildlife.

The major economic sector of Manitoba is manufacturing with wheat as the major agricultural product with cattle following closely behind. In the northern arrea of the province (which is known as The Canadian Shield) there are deposits of zinc, copper, gold and nickel.

Manitoba experiences long and very cold winters and warm, sunny summers. Generally, temperatures decrease progressively from the southwest to the northeast. The average temperature for January ranges from 0°F (-18°C) in the south to -17°F (-27°C) in the north. Average temperatures for July vary from 68°F (20°C) in the south to 55°F (13°C) in the north.