St Catherines

Inland port in southeast Ontario, Canada, on the Welland Ship Canal, 7 km/4 mi south of Lake Ontario and 19 km/12 mi northwest of Niagara Falls; population (1996) 389,700. It is the commercial centre of a fertile agricultural district, which specializes in peach and grape production. Industries include shipbuilding, the processing of canned fruit and vegetables, wine, jams, meat products, and macaroni, and the manufacture of textiles, rugs, vehicle parts, paper, wooden articles, and agricultural, lumbering, and electrical equipment.

In 1826 the first Welland Canal was constructed from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, contributing to the growth of the young city. The new Welland Ship Canal forms part of the St Lawrence Seaway, which connects the Great Lakes with the Atlantic.