Thunder Bay, Administrative city in Northwestern Ontario, Canada
Thunder Bay is a port city on the northern shore of Lake Superior in Northwestern Ontario. The city spreads along the waterfront with a working harbor, residential neighborhoods climbing into forested hills, and industrial grain terminals standing beside the lakefront promenade.
French traders established a trading post at this strategic lake location in 1683. The present city formed when Port Arthur and Fort William, two neighboring communities with separate railway and port histories, merged.
The city serves as a gateway to the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe peoples, with this connection visible in public art and place names. Neighborhoods show churches with Finnish and Ukrainian inscriptions alongside shops selling Scandinavian baked goods and Eastern European specialties.
The international airport sits about 6 miles (10 km) west of downtown and offers flights to several major Canadian cities. The port lies at the eastern end of downtown and remains accessible to visitors during the shipping season from April to December.
The Sleeping Giant, a formation on Sibley Peninsula, appears from the harbor as the profile of a reclining figure. This formation inspired local Ojibwe stories and gives the skyline a recognizable natural landmark.
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