Halifax began as a fortified village located on the eastern shore of a hilly peninsula, which juts into the surrounding harbor. That site, originally selected because it offered shelter against storms and enemy attack, today contains a modern high-rise city, along with many reminders of a lively past. Overlooking the downtown core is the Citadel, a mid-19th century fortification. The Citadel sits on a hill and is topped by towering flagpoles, which were once used to signal the approach of merchant and naval ships.

Just below the Citadel’s ramparts sits Halifax’s most famous landmark, the Old Town Clock, built in 1803. Nearby are a series of historic buildings. These include St. Paul’s, the oldest Protestant church in Canada; St. George’s, the first round church in North America; Government House, the oldest executive residence in North America; and Province House, the longest-serving parliament building in Canada.

Along the waterfront are a series of wooden and stone warehouses and shops put up during Halifax’s 19th-century age of sail, when Halifax merchants owned many wooden sailing ships. Artifacts from this era are found in the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, located on the waterfront. This museum also houses a modern warship, which chased submarines during World War II (1939-1945). A short distance away are other interesting sites, such as the Old Burying Ground, with gravestones from the 1750s; the Public Gardens, laid out in formal Victorian style; and Point Pleasant Park, which contains Canada’s oldest martello tower, a circular fortification whose massive stone walls could defy bombardment.

Halifax’s workforce is concentrated in public administration, commerce, and personal services. Despite recent cutbacks, the government remains the single largest employer. A large percentage of workers in Halifax are employed at the two military bases in the area, Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax and CFB Shearwater. Important industries are food processing, printing and publishing, petroleum refining, ship repair, motor-vehicle assembly, and tourism. In addition, electronic equipment, plastic goods, clothing, cordage, and furniture are manufactured in the area.

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