Geography and Distances

Northwestern Ontario is the largest and most diverse region in Ontario. Its total area covers 526,371.87 km², of which Lake Superior and the inland lakes and green forests of the Canadian Shield make up the majority of the area.

The geography of Northwestern Ontario is as dramatic as it is diverse. It is influenced by the last ice age and marked by hundreds of lakes and rivers as well as plunging waterfalls, towering granite cliffs, deep chasms, beautiful coastal landscapes and lush forests.

Significant natural features include:

Lake Superior and Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area;
Kakabeka Falls – known as the “Niagara of the North”;
Canadian Shield topography;
Boreal forests;
Digging for your own amethyst stone at North America’s largest gemstone mine;
Four season access to the outdoors, with its abundant wildlife, diverse landscapes and changing colours;
Geological fault at Ouimet Canyon
Lookout points at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

Major communities in Northwestern Ontario include Thunder Bay, Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, Sioux Lookout, Geraldton, Red Lake and Marathon. There are also many First Nations in the region that are accessible by either road or air.

The region is bordered to the northwest by the Province of Manitoba in Canada and by the State of Minnesota in the United States to the south. Northwestern Ontario is less than a one day drive from many major centres in Canada and the U.S., including Duluth, Minneapolis, Chicago, and Milwaukee. Due to its size and location, Thunder Bay is the commercial and medical centre of Northwestern Ontario.

Driving Times (in hours) from Thunder Bay

Geraldton, ON	3.5 hours
Fort Frances, ON	4 hours
Sioux Lookout, ON	4 hours
Dryden, ON	4 hours
Rainy River, ON	5.5 hours
Wawa, ON	5.5 hours
Kenora, ON	6 hours

Ottawa, ON	20.5 hours
Toronto, ON	18.5 hours
Sault St. Marie, ON	9 hours
Winnipeg, MN	9 hours

Chicago, IL	14 hours
Duluth, M	3.5 hours
Minneapolis, MN	6.5 hours
Milwaukee, WI	12.5 hours