Intro
Member of the British Commonwealth
Second largest country by total area
Gained independency in 1867 – British North America Act
Federal parliamentary democracy, constitutional monarchy, federation of 10 provinces and 3 territories
French colony in New France, formed at Saint Lawrence River
Location
Total area 9,9 milion km2
Surrounded by: Arctic Ocean (north), Atlantic Ocean (east), Pacific Ocean (west)
Neighbouring countries: Alaska, USA, Greenland (Denmark)
It’s territory includes small islands in Arctic Ocean, from Greenland separated by small straits
New York – Minnesota – border formed by the system of the Great Lakes
Terrain
Canadian Shield – area surrounding Hudson bay – glacier-formed mountainious area, rivers, lakes, boreal forest
31,000 lakes – world’s biggest fresh water reserve
Mountain ranges: Appalachian Mountains (south-east), North American Cordillera
Highest peak: Mt. Logan (cca 6,000 m)
In the east, St. Lawrence river mouthing into Atlantic Ocean – the mouth is the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
In the end of Gulf of Saint Lawrence lies Newfoundland
Types of land found in Canada: tundra, taiga, stepp
Climate
Diverse climate – from subarctic in north to temperate in west
Middle Canada’s climate influenced by Hudson Bay and James Bay
South of the country influenced by the Great Lakes
Landlocked areas have warm summers
Water Bodies
Has the third largest amount of glaciers
St. Lawrence river, Mackenzie river – mouths into Arctic Ocean, Canada’s longest
Great amount of lakes
Contains a quarter of the world’s wetlands
Natural Resources
Great reserves of oil, natural gas, coal, oil sands
Large forests
Important eporter of zinc, uranium, gold, nickel, aluminum, steel
Economy
Eleventh-largest economy in the world
Member of G8
Highly globalized economy
Since 20th ct, economy from rural to urbanized and industrial
Economy dominated by service industry, employing 3/4 of the workforce
One of few that export energy
13% of the global oil reserves
Agriculture
Prairie region (south) – Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
wheat, barley
Central region – Ontario, Edmonton, Quebec
cows, pigs
Pacific Region
milk, apples, potatoes
Population
35,5 million
4/5 of the population lives in 150km off the US border
Very low population density
Ethnic origins: 75% European, 15% Asian, Other
has one of the highest per-capita immigration rates in the world – due to growing economy, family reunification
Immigrants settle in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver
70% people Christians
Two official languages English, French
Cities
Ottawa
Ontario
Capital, 880,000
Siatuated high-tech industry
Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport
Winterlude festival – celebrating winter
Toronto
Capital of Ontario
Biggest, 2,6 million
The Great Toronto Fire 1904 – destroyed downtown
Numerous parks and other public spaces
Royal Alexandra Theatre – 1907 – oldest continuously operating theatre in North America
Royal Ontario Museum
The CN Tower
Edmonton
Capital of Alberta
Population 800,000
The National Institute for Nanotechnology
„Festival City“ – The Works Art & Design Festival, The Edmonton International Street Performer’s Festival,…
Art Gallery of Alberta