Visitors photograph themselves in front of the canoes at the fake lake display. The boats were shipped in from cottage country for authenticity. (Lianne Elliott/CBC)

By Lianne Elliott, CBC News

The much-anticipated fake lake is finally welcoming visitors to its shores.

The $57,000 display offers journalists from around the world a taste of cottage country living right in downtown Toronto at the main G20 media centre in the Direct Energy convention centre at Exhibition Place.

Visitors can roam on the cedar deck, sit in wooden Muskoka chairs and even dip their toes in the shallow water, should they be so inspired. And if they tire of the lake, there's a technology display showcasing Canadian innovation, and a buffet offering the latest Canadian foods and drinks.

Here's a peek at the display, called Experience Canada:


Muskoka chairs beckon journalists. (Lianne Elliott/CBC)


Displays are erected to showcase innovative Canadian companies. (Lianne Elliott/CBC)