Manitoba Province in
s central Canada, the easternmost of the prairie provinces, bordered by Hudson Bay (
ne) and the USA (
s); the capital and largest city is
Winnipeg. In 1670, Charles II granted the land to the
Hudson's Bay Company. In 1869, the company sold it to the newly created Confederation of Canada. Manitoba became a province in 1870. The terrain varies from the prairie country and lake district of the
s, to the rugged upland of the Canadian Shield of the
ne, and the tundra of the far
n. Manitoba is famous for its wheat fields. Dairy farming and the rearing of poultry are also important. Manufacturing includes food products, clothing, electrical products, machinery, metals, and transport equipment. Mineral deposits include nickel, copper, and zinc. There are large oilfields in the
sw of the province and extensive timber reserves. Area: 649,947sq km (250,946sq mi). Pop. (2001) 1,119,583.
http://www.gov.mb.ca
