Sault Ste. Marie

Sault Ste. Marie, located on the St. Marys River, is a city in Ontario, Canada, situated adjacent to the United States-Canada border, and is the third-largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay. The city is home to the Sault Ste. Marie Canal, a National Historic Site of Canada, and is near the Soo Locks, a set of locks in Michigan, United States, which enable ships to pass between Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes. The city is also close to the Gros Cap and the Batchawana Bay, and is part of the Algoma District. The city has a rich history, with nearby Fort St. Joseph being a key location during the War of 1812, and is near the Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Geography

The city of Sault Ste. Marie is situated on the St. Marys River, which connects Lake Superior to the other Great Lakes, and is near the Soo Locks, a set of locks that enable ships to pass between the lakes. The city is also close to the Gros Cap and the Batchawana Bay, and is part of the Algoma District. The city's geography is characterized by its location on the Canadian Shield, with the Sault Ste. Marie Canal being a key feature of the city's landscape. The city is near the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan, United States, and is close to the Bruce Peninsula National Park and the Fathom Five National Marine Park in Ontario. The city's geography has been shaped by the Last Ice Age, with the Lake Agassiz and the Lake Iroquois having played a significant role in the formation of the city's landscape.

History

The city of Sault Ste. Marie has a rich history, with the area being inhabited by the Ojibwe people for thousands of years. The city was a key location during the French colonization of the Americas, with the French Empire establishing a fort in the area in the early 18th century. The city played a significant role during the War of 1812, with the nearby Fort St. Joseph being a key location during the conflict. The city was also an important location during the Fenian Raids, with the Fenian Brotherhood launching a series of attacks on the city in the late 19th century. The city has been home to a number of notable figures, including Pierre-Esprit Radisson, Médard des Groseilliers, and Alexander Henry the elder, and is near the Fort Michilimackinac in Michigan, United States.

Economy

The economy of Sault Ste. Marie is driven by a number of industries, including steel production, with the city being home to the Essar Steel Algoma plant, and forestry, with the city being surrounded by the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest. The city is also an important location for tourism, with visitors drawn to the city's natural beauty, including the Aguasabon Falls and the Kakabeka Falls, and its rich history, including the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre and the Sault Ste. Marie Museum. The city is home to a number of major employers, including the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the Sault Area Hospital, and the Sault College, and is near the Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Demographics

The demographics of Sault Ste. Marie are characterized by a population of approximately 73,368 people, according to the 2016 Canadian Census. The city has a diverse population, with a mix of European Canadians, Indigenous peoples in Canada, and Visible minorities in Canada. The city is home to a number of different ethnic groups, including Italian Canadians, French Canadians, and English Canadians, and is near the Anishinaabe communities in Michigan, United States. The city has a relatively low cost of living, with the cost of housing being lower than in many other cities in Ontario, and is home to a number of different neighborhoods, including the Downtown Sault Ste. Marie and the East End.

Culture

The culture of Sault Ste. Marie is characterized by a strong sense of community, with a number of different festivals and events taking place throughout the year, including the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge Festival and the Soo Film Festival. The city is home to a number of different cultural institutions, including the Art Gallery of Algoma and the Sault Ste. Marie Museum, and is near the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.. The city has a rich musical heritage, with a number of different genres being represented, including folk music, rock music, and country music, and is home to a number of different musicians, including Terry Watkinson and Barbara Lynn.

Transportation

The transportation network in Sault Ste. Marie is characterized by a number of different modes of transportation, including road transport, with the city being connected to the Trans-Canada Highway and the Ontario Highway 17, and rail transport, with the city being served by the Canadian National Railway and the Canadian Pacific Railway. The city is also home to the Sault Ste. Marie International Airport, which offers flights to a number of different destinations, including Toronto Pearson International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. The city is near the Port of Duluth-Superior in Duluth, Minnesota, and is connected to the St. Lawrence Seaway by the Sault Ste. Marie Canal. The city is also home to a number of different bus companies, including Greyhound Canada and Ontario Northland, and is near the VIA Rail station in Sudbury, Ontario.