Capital: Toronto Motto: Ut Inceptit Fedelis Sic Permanet (Loyal it began, loyal it remains) Flower: White Trillium Population, 1998: 11,404,750     The Land   The name "Ontario" comes from the Iroquois word "Kanadario" meaning "sparkling water." The name is fitting: not only is Ontario bordered on the south by the Great Lakes and on the north by Hudson Bay, but 177 390 km2, or one sixth of its terrain, is covered by rivers and lakes. Ontario is larger than Spain and France combined. The province has a landmass of 1,068,580 sq km and is the 2nd largest province in Canada. At its greatest extremity Ontario is 690 km in width. the longest distance north/south is 1,730 km. The highest point, at 693 m above sea level, is in the District of Timiskaming, near Lady Evelyn Smoothwater Provincial Park.   The People   With over 11 million people, Ontario is the country's most heavily populated province. While English is the official language, Ontario's Francophones play an essential part in the province's cultural life. The provincial government provides services in French in those regions where the Francophone population is sufficiently high.   Economy   Ontario is Canada's most productive province, generating some 40 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Its manufacturing industries lead the way. Ontario's competitive advantages include its natural resources, modern transportation system, large, well-educated labour force, reliable and relatively inexpensive electrical power, and proximity to key U.S. markets: less than a day's drive puts Ontario's products within reach of 120 million American consumers. Automobiles are Ontario's major manufacturing industry and most important export, employing more than 140 000 people. Motor vehicles, parts and accessories accounted for 37% of Canada's total exports in 1998.   Kamal and Asha Chhabra provide Ontario houses for sale to various real estate markets. This includes the Mississauga real estate market as well as the Brampton real estate market and includes the Burlington real estate market and the Milton and Oakville real estate markets. This is to ensure that the residents of the Greater Toronto Area receive the best selection among Ontario homes for sale as well as Ontario Condos for sale. You can browse our various Ontario MLS listings to look at this wide variety of homes available to you. *Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2003.