Portage la Praire, Manitoba, Canada

Portage la Prairie 'is a city in the Western Canadian province of Manitoba. As of 2006, the population was 12,728. The area of the city was 24.67 square kilometres (9.5 sq mi). Portage la Prairie is located approximately 70 kilometres (45 miles) west of Winnipeg. It sits on the Assiniboine River, which flooded the town persistently until a ditch north to Lake Manitoba (the Assiniboine River Floodway) was built to divert the flood waters.

'The name is derived from the French word portage, which means to carry a canoe overland between waterways. In this case the "portage" was between the Assiniboine River and Lake Manitoba, over la prairie. The city became a major transportation centre due to its proximity to the river and later, the location of the main lines of the country's national railways passing through the community, all within a few hundred meters of each other. This has made Portage la Prairie one of the most ideal places for railway aficionados to view trains.' (Extract from 'Wikipedia')