What is the capital of Canada?

The capital of Canada is Ottawa. It sits in southern Ontario, where the Ottawa River meets the Rideau River, directly across from Gatineau, Quebec.

Ottawa became the capital through a compromise. Queen Victoria selected it in 1857, partly because its position between Canada West and Canada East helped balance regional interests. Its inland location, away from the United States border and protected by surrounding forests, also made it easier to defend.

The city was first called Bytown, after military engineer John By, who supervised construction of the Rideau Canal. It was incorporated as Ottawa in 1855. Today, Parliament Hill, the Supreme Court of Canada, the prime minister's official office, and many national museums are located there.

A common mix-up is choosing Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver because they are larger and more prominent cities. Toronto is Canada's largest city, while Ottawa is the country's political capital. Ottawa and Gatineau together form the National Capital Region, which spans the Ontario–Quebec boundary.