Calgary, Canada

Calgary is a city in the Canadian province of Alberta, located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. If you want to see your dream winter wonderland, walk on one of the aerial bridges or attend the famous Stampede race, you can visit Calgary. The city's population is around 1.3 million, making it the largest city in the province of Alberta and the third largest in the country. With the development of energy, financial services, film and television, transportation and logistics, aerospace, healthcare and tourism, Calgary is recognized as a city with a high quality of life on a global scale.

The town's population increased significantly between 1896 and 1914, when settlers from all over the world poured into the area due to the government's offer of free homestead land. Agriculture and livestock have been the main livelihood of Calgary's population for years. The city's economy took off when an oil well was discovered in the Turner River Valley near Calgary in 1946. The city became the oil and gas capital of Canada.

The population continues to grow. The second half of the 20th century was successful for the city. Several skyscrapers were built, and Calgary's selection to host the 1988 Winter Olympics put the city on the world stage and transformed it into a cosmopolitan city with a contemporary feel. The city administration also invests funds in the field of tourism. The beautiful mountain winter resort of Banff in the Rockies, along with the charming village of Lake Louise and another resort, Kenmore, are becoming popular with tourists. The city's festivals and other attractions attract about 3 million tourists a year.

The world-famous event "Calgary Stampede" takes place annually in July, lasts 10 days and is visited by 1 million visitors annually. It is one of the richest rodeos in the world, one of the biggest festivals in Canada and an incredible experience for those who attend. The race with thoroughbred horses in a team on a track has a prize fund of 2 million dollars and is the most famous outdoor show in the world. It was started by four wealthy farmers as a small agricultural show in 1912. This interesting attraction was visited by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during their tour in 1959. In winter, the temperature in Calgary can drop to -20 degrees. Summer – from June to December, average daily temperatures are 16.5 degrees.

In addition to the skyscrapers, downtown Calgary has a mix of restaurants and bars, cultural centers, public squares and shops. Stephen Avenue is the main pedestrianized center of the city with a mix of boutiques and attractive retailers. The large indoor park "Devonian Gardens" is located on the fourth top floor of a shopping center on Stephen Avenue. Covering an area of ​​10 decares, the park is enclosed with a glass roof and here you can see about 500 rare trees, lakes, a children's playground, flower paths, benches for relaxation and a restaurant.

The Calgary Tower is the emblem of the city. At 190.8 meters high, it was built on the occasion of Canada's centennial in 1967 and opened to the public in 1968. For those years, it was the tallest tower in North America. In just over a minute, the two elevators take visitors to the observation deck, from where a magnificent view is revealed. Later, souvenir shops were added here, as well as a restaurant that rotates every 45 minutes so that they can enjoy watch the changing landscapes from a dizzying height.

On the occasion of the Winter Olympics, in 1987 a torch was installed on the top of the tower, which consumed 850 cubic meters of gas in one hour. It continues to light up during important holidays. Added in 2014, the tower's crown exterior lighting system is programmed to create millions of color combinations and lighting effects, and it's wonderful to see this feat of science and human ambition.

The Calgary Zoo is located on the island of St. George" on 120 acres and is close to downtown and the Inglewood Historic District. The zoo is accessible by the C-Train system. Over 1,000 animals live here, including fish and insects. Divided into six areas where you can see African animals, Canadian wildlife, there is a prehistoric park and a separate Botanical Garden.

Prince Island Park is a city park located on an island in the Bow River and connected by three bridges to the Eau Claire Lumber Mill - a huge building with unique shops.

In the 1960s, a series of pedestrian bridges began to be built in Calgary, connecting many buildings in the city center. So today, Calgary boasts the world's largest network of skyways, which are located 4.6 meters above the ground.

At Heritage Park, visitors can experience a historic village showing life in Alberta before 1914. Steam trains, a steamboat and an electric streetcar are on display here.

Olympic Park is home to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the Callaway Family Amusement Park. Dwarf white spruce-conifer is widespread in Calgary. Near the city are the so-called Spruce meadows, where there is an equestrian facility, opened in 1976. Six major horse racing tournaments and eight domestic ones are held here each year. Spruce Meadows breed, train and sell Hanoverian horses and host an annual "Name the Foal" contest, which is very popular.

Calgary Airport is 17 km from the city. Calgary is an interesting city with many challenges.