Grandiose wilderness and modern metropolises, wave-battered fishing villages and charming vineyards in eastern Canada offer a fascinating variety of landscapes and life forms, where the contrasts of the country come together closely. The Canadian Shield, which stretches in a wide arc from Hudson Bay to Labrador north of the St. Lawrence Lowlands and the Great Lakes, is an almost entirely undeveloped and uninhabited region with countless lakes, vast forests, and tundras. The million-strong cities of Toronto, Montréal, and the capital Ottawa are fixed points in the expanse of the east. Scottish, Irish, and Breton immigrants have left their mark on the fishing villages and port cities along the Atlantic. The heart of French-speaking Canada beats along the St. Lawrence River between Montréal and Québec City, showcasing one of the region's most spectacular natural spectacles.