Montreal is a major city located in the province of Quebec, Canada. It serves as the largest city within its province and ranks as the second-largest city in the country. Geographically, it is positioned on the Island of Montreal along with several smaller peripheral islands, the largest being Île Bizard.
The city was founded in 1642 under the name Ville-Marie, or "City of Mary." Its current name is derived from Mount Royal, a triple-peaked mountain that surrounded the original settlement. Montreal is situated approximately 196 kilometres east of Ottawa and 258 kilometres southwest of Quebec City.