Time Zone |
America/Toronto |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC-5 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC-4 |
Time Zone |
Africa/El_Aaiun |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+1 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC+0 |
Markham is located in the southern part of Ontario, Canada, and is an important part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), bordered by Richmond Hill to the north and the City of Toronto to the south. As the center of Canada's high-tech industry, Markham is known as the "High-Tech Capital of Canada", with more than 1,500 technology companies such as IBM, AMD, Huawei and other headquarters or R & D centers.
Markham has a population of approximately 350,000, of which more than 40% are Chinese, making it one of the cities with the highest percentage of Chinese in North America. The city has a strong multicultural atmosphere, and the annual Markham Asian Cultural and Food Festival is the largest Asian cultural event in North America. The downtown area has an Asian flavor with shopping districts such as Pacific Place and Markham Plaza.
Markham has a vibrant economy, with a well-established manufacturing and financial services sector in addition to leading technology industries. Urban planning emphasizes green ecology, with a large number of parks and nature preserves preserved. High-quality school districts, excellent community facilities and a low crime rate have made it one of Canada's most livable cities for many years.
Markham is conveniently located with Highway 407 and GO Intercity Railway running through the city and 30 minutes to downtown Toronto. Its proximity to Toronto's Pearson International Airport makes it an important gateway to the Canadian market for international businesses.
Smara is an important city in Western Sahara, located in the heart of the Sahara Desert and historically known as the "Pearl of the Sahara". Founded by Saharan nomads, the city developed in the 19th century under the initiative of Mauritanian leader Cheikh Maa El Amin into a religious and trade center with ancient mosques and traditional mud-brick buildings. The historical symbol of the POLISARIO (Front for the Liberation of Western Sahara), Semara combines the imprint of a nomadic culture with the spirit of resistance to colonization. Despite the region's political complexity, its unique desert landscape and Berber cultural heritage continue to attract explorers and provide a key window into the history and ethnicity of Western Sahara.