To many Canadians, Algonquin, with its lush maple and fir woods, sparkling lakes, and plentiful wildlife, is as familiar a symbol of Canada as is Niagara Falls.

Founded in 1893, this is the oldest and most famous park in Ontario, stretching across 7,630 square km (2,946 square miles) of wilderness. Wildlife abounds; visitors have a chance to see beavers, moose, and bear in their natural habitats, and the park echoes with the hauntingly beautiful call of the loon, heard often in northern Ontario. Every August, on Thursday evenings, “wolf howls” are organized whereby visitors attempt to elicit answers from these native animals by imitating their cries. Opportunities for outdoor activities are plentiful; most visitors like to try one of the 2,000 km (1,243 miles) of canoe routes through the forested interior.