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The city of Belleville is known as the fresh-water sailing capital of North America and prides itself in being a major port for scenic entertainment cruises of the breathtaking Thousand Islands. The 1000 Islands are one of nature’s great masterpieces.
They are a group of islands, large and small, that occupy the St. Lawrence River shared by both Ontario and New York State. The First Nations people who inhabited the area long before the arrival of the first settlers called it the "Garden of the Great Spirit." Having been surveyed by the British, many of the islands of any size bear the name of a British Admiral, battle or ship.
Belleville is said to be “a city built on a grand heritage and defined by an exquisite ability to blend the beauty of yesterday with the passion and sophistication of today.” Belleville is nicknamed the "Limestone City" because of the many historic buildings built from limestone.
When you visit, you’ll find there’s an endless array of things to do. Its bustling urban heart is the home to businesses offering all the amenities of a major city center, but retains the quaint allure of a small town.
Enjoy the galleries, as Belleville boasts the third largest art collection in Ontario. Take a guided tour via trolley, on foot or on a boat where professional guides can give you an excellent synopsis of the area’s history and current day life. If you like to explore and learn, each of Kington’s museums is unique in its contribution and you’ll be fascinated by some of the best collections in Canada.
Visit Fort Henry and experience the majesty of the thundering cannons and delicate flutes of the world famous Sunset Ceremonies each summer. Take a lunch or sunset cruise on the Belleville harbor. The Belleville nightlife can feature witty and wonderful local stage performances; and when the lights are dim, the music and events begin for late-night lovers of pubs and bars.
Belleville is also a choice destination for the growing trend in extreme sports with a wealth of opportunities for rock climbers, mountain bikers, scuba divers and other adventure seekers.
An activity that is beginning to become popular in the Belleville area is shipwreck diving. Because of the coolness of the waters, several wrecks dating as far back as the mid 1800’s can be visited in waters reaching approximately 22 - 110 ft. in depth.
Also among the deep water goods are machinery, bottles, anchors and what is presumed to be cannonballs from the War of 1812. Several of Belleville’s dive operators can assist to make the dives an interesting success.
Natural beauty surrounds Belleville, and the city itself boasts one of the largest per capita green space areas in Ontario with 180 parks and 2,500 acres of maintained ground. Experiencing Mother Nature here is as simple as taking a stroll in one of the historic parks or riding a bicycle along one of the city’s beautiful trails.
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