Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is located in central Canada at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal center of North America. Geographically, it lies about 65 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of Lake Winnipeg and approximately 95 kilometers (60 miles) north of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Winnipeg is often described as being in the heart of Canada, roughly midway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
. The city is situated on the traditional territory of several Indigenous peoples, including the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Ininew (Cree), and Dakota
. It serves as a major transportation hub and economic center in the region, with a diverse multicultural population and a rich history dating back to the early 18th century
