city (MONTREAL)

cityscape
The city of Montréal's territory (495 km2) encompasses the whole island of Montréal and some smaller surrounding islands. Many riverside linear parks have been established all around the island and along the Lachine Canal. Mont Royal, a small mountain of volcanic origin (elevation about 200 m), dominates Montréal's landscape. Its graduated terraces mark the city's elevations and also determined its settlement pattern for many years. After a trial period at Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal's founder, Maisonneuve, moved to the elevated site (25 m) he had chosen farther from the river near Place d'Armes. This was to be the site of Vieux ("Old") Montréal, enclosed for many years by a wall, between 1718 and 1744 and demolished in the early 19th century.